title: Rubella immunity among pregnant women aged 15-44 years, Namibia, 2010.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The level of rubella susceptibility among women of reproductive age in Namibia is unknown. Documenting the risk of rubella will help estimate the potential burden of disease in Namibian women and the risk of congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) in infants, and will guide strategies for the introduction of rubella vaccine.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 2044 serum samples from pregnant Namibian women aged 15-44 years were tested for rubella immunoglobulin G antibody; the samples were obtained during the 2010 National HIV Sentinel Survey. The proportion of women seropositive for rubella was determined by 5-year age strata, and factors associated with seropositivity were analyzed by logistic regression, including age, gravidity, HIV status, facility type, and urban/rural status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall rubella seroprevalence was 85% (95% confidence interval (CI) 83-86%). Seroprevalence varied by age group (83-90%) and health district (71-100%). In the multivariable model, women from urban residences had higher odds of seropositivity as compared to women from rural residences (odds ratio 1.40, 95% CI 1.09-1.81).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the absence of a routine rubella immunization program, the high level of rubella seropositivity suggests rubella virus transmission in Namibia, yet 15% of pregnant Namibian women remain susceptible to rubella. The introduction of rubella vaccine will help reduce the risk of rubella in pregnant women and CRS in infants.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health and Social Services, Directorate of Special Programmes, Primary Health Directorate, and Family Health Division (Expanded Programme on Immunizations), Windhoek, Namibia.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jonas
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Global Immunization Division, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. Electronic address: iyk8@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Cristina V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Cardemil
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Windhoek, Namibia.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beukes
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Viral Diseases, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Raydel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Viral Diseases, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Rota
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Viral Diseases, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bankamp
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Global Immunization Division, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
authors.forename: Howard E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Gary
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Windhoek, Namibia.
authors.forename: Souleymane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sawadogo
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Windhoek, Namibia.
authors.forename: Sadhna V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health and Social Services, Directorate of Special Programmes, Primary Health Directorate, and Family Health Division (Expanded Programme on Immunizations), Windhoek, Namibia.
authors.forename: Sikota
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zeko
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health and Social Services, Directorate of Special Programmes, Primary Health Directorate, and Family Health Division (Expanded Programme on Immunizations), Windhoek, Namibia.
authors.forename: Clementine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Muroua
authors.affiliation: Namibia Institute of Pathology, Windhoek, Namibia.
authors.forename: Esegiel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gaeb
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Global Immunization Division, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wannemuehler
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Windhoek, Namibia.
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gerber
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Global Immunization Division, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Goodson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D016015:Logistic Models; D009276:Namibia; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000276:immunology*; D012409:Rubella / Q000276:immunology*; D012411:Rubella Vaccine; D014611:Vaccination; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D012411:Rubella Vaccine
keywords: Namibia; Population immunity; Pregnant women; Rubella; Seroprevalence