Abstract

RUBELLA SEROEPIDEMIOLOGY IN KIRKUK CITY

Abdulghani M. Asamarai*, Parjein S. Mohamed, Abdulkareem Fatah

ABSTRACT

Background: Although Expanded Program on Immunization was established in Iraq, still rubella acute infection reported in Iraq. Objective: To determine rubella seroprevalence in women with childbearing age. Patients and methods: A retrospective and a case control study were conducted in Kirkuk, Iraq, which included 1315 women in a retrospective study and 300 women in a case control study. A structured questionnaires were used to gather sociodemographic data and ELISA was used to detect rubella infection using IgG and IgM kits. Results: In the retrospective study rubella seropositivity 69.6%, While acute rubella infection rate was 7.3%. In the prospective study rubella IgG seroprevalence was 88%, however, IgM was positive in 0.33 of cases. The IgG seropositivity was significantly higher in prospective (88%) as compared to retrospective (67.6%) study design. In contrast, acute infection was significantly higher in retrospective (7.3%) compared to prospective (0.33%) cohorts. In addition, the overall seropositivity for rubella in Kirkuk city was 71.4%, while the acute infection was 6% during the period from January 2014 to the end of June 2015. Rubella seropositivity was with significant association with abortion number and pregnancy duration. Conclusion: There is a high rate of susceptibility to rubella infection in women with childbearing age in Kirkuk City.

Keywords: rubella, IgG, IgM, pregnant women, socio-demographic variables, Iraq.