title: Rubella seroprevalence among women aged 15-39 years in Morocco.
abstract: This study was designed to determine the age-specific rubella seroprevalence in women of childbearing age in Morocco and to contribute to the development of a rubella vaccination strategy in the country. Of 967 women aged 15-39 years tested in 2000, 161 (16.6%) were susceptible to rubella based on absence of IgG antibodies. A significantly higher rate of susceptibility among women aged 15-19 years was observed (29.3%) compared with age 35-39 years (8.3%). An estimated 77,562 live births occur annually to rubella-susceptible women. No statistical difference in seroprevalence was seen between women in rural and urban areas (81.5% and 85.0% respectively). A substantial risk of rubella infection exists for Moroccan women of childbearing age.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Hygiene, Rabat, Morocco. hcaidi@lycos.com
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Caidi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bloom
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Azilmaat
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benjouad
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reef
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: El Aouad
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D009018:Morocco / Q000453:epidemiology; D020380:Needs Assessment; D018456:Reproductive Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012409:Rubella / Q000097:blood / Q000151:congenital / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012412:Rubella virus / Q000276:immunology; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014611:Vaccination; D016387:Women's Health
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G