title: Seroprevalence of rubella among pregnant women in Khartoum state, Sudan.
abstract: Rubella vaccine is not included in the Sudanese national immunization programme, and data on prevalence of rubella among women of childbearing age are inadequate. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to determine the seroprevalence of rubella among pregnant women in Khartoum state, Sudan. A total of 500 pregnant women who visited 7 antenatal clinics from November 2008 to March 2009 were examined for the presence of rubella IgG antibodies using ELISA. Rubella IgG antibodies were detected in 95.1% (95% Cl: 93.2%-97.0%) of women. This seroprevalence was significantly associated with education level, but not with age, residence area, occupation or parity. We presume this high seroprevalence indicates a high circulation of wild rubella virus in Khartoum state. Similar studies in other Sudanese states would be important for informing a decision to introduce rubella vaccine to Sudan.
authors: Department of Medical Biotechnology, Commission for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, National Centre for Research, Khartoum, Sudan. omerhadi@yahoo.com
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Adam
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Makkawi
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Kannan
authors: M E
authors: ME
authors: Osman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D012409:Rubella / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013397:Sudan / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; C040901:rubella antibodies