title: Prevalence of rubella IgG antibodies among pregnant women in Zaria, Nigeria.
abstract: Rubella is a vaccine-preventable viral infection which in pregnancy can lead to foetal wastage and congenital malformations. A rubella IgG serosurvey of 430 consenting pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic was conducted at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria between 1 May 2007 and 29 February 2008. Questionnaires were also used to assess their level of awareness and pregnancy outcomes noted. Of the 430 serum samples tested, 421 (97.9%) were positive and 9 (2.1%) were negative for rubella IgG antibody. Differences in sociodemographic factors were of little significance between the groups and awareness of the infection was low. This high prevalence suggests that a sustained viral circulation exists in children and infection occurs early in infancy hence a high level of immunity exists in pregnant women with low levels of complications. In the absence of mass vaccination, all seronegative women should be vaccinated after delivery.
authors.affiliation: Shehu Mohammed Kangiwa Medical Center, Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Mohammed-Durosinlorun
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Amina
authors.forename: Shittu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oladapo
authors.forename: Sadauki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Habib
authors.forename: Olayinka
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Adebola
authors.forename: Kolawole
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bimbo
authors.forename: Adejo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Daniel