Identification of seronegative pregnant women eligible for immunization against rubella

ABSTRACT

To estimate the frequency of Rubella seropositivity among pregnant women and thereby getting an estimate of seronegative women who should eventually be immunized against Rubella. A blood sample of 100 consecutive pregnant women coming for their first antenatal check-up at Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, was collected in the year 2002. Enzyme-Linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] technique was used to detect IgG antibodies against Rubella. Out of 100 pregnant women 61[61%] were positive for rubella [IgG antibodies] in the first trimester of pregnancy. Mean age of the study participants was 27 ' 3.27 years. Twenty-five [25%] women were primigravida, while 75 [75%] were multigravida. Majority of the women were housewives belonging to middle and lower middle socioeconomic class. We found 61% women had positive Rubella antibodies during first antenatal visit. Nearly 40% who were negative should be immunized against rubella, preferably before conception