title: Some factors affecting rubella seronegative prevalence among pregnant women in a North West England region between April 2011 and March 2013.
abstract: Rubella is usually a mild viral illness, but during pregnancy, it can have potentially devastating effects causing fetal losses and severe congenital malformations (congenital rubella syndrome). Rubella is now rare in most developed countries following a successful vaccination programme. We aimed to investigate differences in epidemiological profile of pregnant women screened antenatally in Liverpool to identify risk factors for rubella immunity.
  
  
  
  All samples were tested with the Elecsys Rubella IgG immunoassay kit. A result <10 IU/ml was considered to be seronegative.
  
  
  
  The seronegativity prevalence among pregnant women in Liverpool (6.3%) is higher than average value for the North West region (3.7%). The seronegative rates varied with age (15.4% for <15 years, 18.7% for 15-20 years, compared with 2% for 30-35 years). The areas with the highest seronegative rates correspond with areas of Liverpool with high pockets of socioeconomic deprivation.
  
  
  
  The highest proportion of seronegative women were among the youngest age groups. Local areas with highest level of deprivation should be given priority and additional resources to develop targeted programmes and pathways to implement appropriate interventions such as MMR catch-up programmes and put in place arrangements for offering MMR vaccination in maternity units.
authors: Child Development Centre, Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Trust, Sandy Lane, Warrington WA2 9HY, UK.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Ogundele
authors: Health Protection Cheshire and Merseyside, Public Health England Centre, Liverpool L1 1JF, UK.
authors: Sam
authors: S
authors: Ghebrehewet
authors: Liverpool Specialist Virology Centre, Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust, Liverpool L7 8XP, UK.
authors: Anu
authors: A
authors: Chawla
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D007118:Immunoassay; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012409:Rubella / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012411:Rubella Vaccine / Q000276:immunology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D012411:Rubella Vaccine
keywords: communicable diseases; epidemiology; pregnancy and childbirth disorders