Seroppositivity of anti-rubella antibodies among premarriagegirls in Diyala province

Abstract

Rubella is the mildest of common viral exanthems. However, infection during early
pregnancy may result in serious abnormalities of the fetus including congenital malformation
and mental retardation. The objectives of the present study are to determine the seropositivity
rate of anti-rubella IgG and IgM antibodies among premarriage girls in Diyala province.
A total of 358 subjects were included in the present study. The study was extended
from 7/April/2007 to 30/September/2008. 186 (51.9%) were females with mean age 16.7±
2.1 years, and 172(48.1%) were males with mean age 24.5 ±5.5 years. Those subjects were
randomly selected from those attending the Public Health Laboratory in Baquba for
premarriage investigations. Further information regarding age, residence, educational levels
was taken by personal interview. Detection of anti-rubella antibodies was done by enzymelinked
immunosorbant assays (ELISA) using (Biokit, Spain).Data were statistically analyzed
using SPSS version 13 computer assisted processing. P value <0.05 was considered
significant.
The results showed that all males and females were negative for anti-rubella IgM
antibody. However, 168 (97.7%) of males and 170(91.4%) of females were positive for antirubella
IgG antibody. Therefore, the rate of non-immune females was higher than that of
males (8.6% vs 2.3%). In conclusion premarital screening for anti-rubella IgG and vaccination
of non-immune girls could minimize the risk of rubella infection during pregnancy and childbearing
period.
Key words: Rubella, Congenital rubella syndrome, premarriage girls