Seroprevalence of antibodies against rubella virus in pregnant women in Haiti.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the seroprevalence of immunity to the rubella virus in pregnant women in Haiti attending the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of the State University Hospital, in the capital city of Port-au-Prince, in order to help with the introduction of the rubella vaccine for the population and provide protection for women of reproductive age in the country. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was done between February 2002 and May 2002. A total of 503 pregnant women were tested for rubella-specific immunoglobulin G antibodies, using enzyme immunoassay; 8 of those women were later excluded because they did not know their age, leaving 495 women in the analysis. RESULTS: Of the 495 participants included in our analysis, 471 of them (95.2%) were seropositive; only 24 of them (4.8%) were seronegative (susceptible). A statistically significant difference (P = 0.02) was found in the rate of seronegativity for rubella virus between the pregnant women living in the Port-au-Prince area (17 of 426 women, or 4.0%) and those living in rural areas (7 of 69 women, or 10.1%). In terms of age, 81 of the 495 (16.4%) women were under 21 years ld. CONCLUSIONS: This study is an important first step in addressing the issue of prevalence of rubella virus infection among Haitian women and in dealing with the still-underrecognized public health problem of congenital rubella syndrome in Haiti. We recommend additional research that uses randomized sampling and includes a significant proportion of women from rural areas of the country.

Seroprevalence of antibodies against rubella virus in pregnant women in Haiti

OBJETIVO: Determinar la seroprevalencia de la inmunidad al virus de la rubéola en mujeres embarazadas que se atienden al Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología del Hospital de la Universidad Estatal, en Puerto Príncipe, capital de Haití, a fin de contribuir a introducir la vacunación de la población contra la rubéola y proteger a las mujeres en edad reproductiva en el país. MÉTODOS: Este estudio transversal se realizó entre febrero y mayo de 2002. Se evaluó la presencia de anticuerpos de tipo IgG específicos contra la rubéola en 503 embarazadas mediante un inmunoensayo enzimático. Posteriormente se excluyó a 8 mujeres debido a que no sabían su edad. RESULTADOS: De las 495 participantes estudiadas, 471 (95,2%) tenían seropositividad; solo 24 de ellas (4,8%) mostraron seronegatividad (susceptibilidad). Se encontraron menos mujeres seronegativas entre las residentes de Puerto Príncipe (17 de 426, 4,0%) que entre las residentes de zonas rurales (7 de 69, 10,1%) (P = 0,02). En relación con la edad, 81 (16,4%) de las 495 mujeres embarazadas estudiadas eran menores de 21 años. CONCLUSIONES: Con este estudio se da el primer paso hacia evaluar la prevalencia de la infección por el virus de la rubéola en mujeres haitianas y hacia el enfrentamiento de un problema de salud que todavía no ha sido reconocido en toda su magnitud: el síndrome de la rubéola congénita en Haití. Se recomienda emprender estudios adicionales con muestreos aleatorios que abarquen una fracción significativa de mujeres provenientes de zonas rurales.

Seroprevalence of antibodies against rubella virus in pregnant women in Haiti

This study is an important first step in addressing the issue of prevalence of rubella virus infection among Haitian women and in dealing with the still-underrecognized public health problem of congenital rubella syndrome in Haiti. We recommend additional research that uses randomized sampling and includes a significant proportion of women from rural areas of the country (AU)