title: Rubella Immune Status in Pregnant Women in a Northern Mexican City.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The seroepidemiology of rubella virus infection in pregnant women in northern Mexico is largely unknown. We sought to determine the seroprevalence of rubella virus infection in pregnant women in the northern Mexican city of Durango, Mexico. Seroprevalence association with the socio-demographic, clinical and behavioral characteristics of the pregnant women was also investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Through a cross-sectional study, we determined the seroprevalence of IgG and IgM anti-rubella virus in 279 pregnant women (mean age 29.17 ± 5.96 years; range 15 - 43 years) attending in a clinic of family medicine using enzyme-linked fluorescent assays. A questionnaire was used to obtain the socio-demographic, clinical and behavioral characteristics of the pregnant women. The association of rubella seropositivity and characteristics of the women was assessed by bivariate and multivariate analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anti-rubella IgG antibodies (≥ 15 IU/mL) were found in 271 (97.1%) of the 279 pregnant women examined. None of the 279 pregnant women were positive for anti-rubella IgM antibodies. Multivariate analysis of socio-demographic, clinical and behavioral variables showed that seroreactivity to rubella virus was positively associated with national trips (OR = 7.39; 95% CI: 1.41 - 38.78; P = 0.01), and negatively associated with age (OR = 0.26; 95% CI: 0.06 - 0.99; P = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rate of rubella immunity in pregnant women in the northern Mexican city of Durango is high. However, nearly 3% of pregnant women are susceptible to rubella in our setting. Risk factors associated with rubella seropositivity found in this study may be useful for optimal design of preventive measures against rubella and its sequelae.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juarez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico.
authors.forename: Cosme
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alvarado-Esquivel
authors.affiliation: Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera-Damm", Juarez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico.
authors.forename: Jesus
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hernandez-Tinoco
authors.affiliation: Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera-Damm", Juarez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico.
authors.forename: Luis Francisco
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Anguiano
authors.affiliation: Clinica de Medicina Familiar, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado, Predio Canoas S/N, 34079 Durango, Mexico.
authors.forename: Agar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramos-Nevarez
authors.affiliation: Clinica de Medicina Familiar, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado, Predio Canoas S/N, 34079 Durango, Mexico.
authors.forename: Sandra Margarita
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cerrillo-Soto
authors.affiliation: Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera-Damm", Juarez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico.
authors.forename: Jose Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Salas-Pacheco
authors.affiliation: Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera-Damm", Juarez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico.
authors.forename: Ada Agustina
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Sandoval-Carrillo
authors.affiliation: Clinica de Medicina Familiar, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado, Predio Canoas S/N, 34079 Durango, Mexico.
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martinez-Ramirez
authors.affiliation: Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera-Damm", Juarez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico.
authors.forename: Elizabeth Irasema
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Antuna-Salcido
authors.affiliation: Clinica de Medicina Familiar, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado, Predio Canoas S/N, 34079 Durango, Mexico.
authors.forename: Carlos Alberto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Guido-Arreola
keywords: Cross-sectional study; Epidemiology; Mexico; Pregnant women; Rubella; Seroprevalence