Rubella seroprevalence in childbearing age women: a cross sectional study in the province of Frosinone, Central Southern Ital

Abstract

Background: Congenital rubella infection can be prevented by protecting women of reproductive age through
vaccination. The aims of this study were to estimate the seroprevalence of rubella virus antibodies among
females aged between 15 and 45 years in the province of Frosinone and to assess knowledge about Rubella
and Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) and the association between rubella immunization status and
various risk factors.
Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out involving 1242 females recruited by random selection.
Enzyme immunoassay method was used to detect and quantify human anti IgG antibodies for rubella virus in
1242 anonymously females aged between 15 and 45 years. A questionnaire was used to collect demographic
data including age, sex, previous history, previous vaccination and knowledge about rubella. Statistical
analysis was carried out using the program EpiInfo 3.3.
Results: The majority of the females recruited to the study were 15-24 years old (66%), unmarried (71.2%),
students (61%) who had not previously given birth (87.9%). Rubella Seroprevalence was 90.3% in women
aged 40-45 years old and 68.8% in those aged 15-19 (p=0.0001). Only 137 participants reported having
received rubella vaccination. Generally knowledge about rubella and congenital rubella syndrome was
lacking.
Conclusions: In the province of Frosinone, women in each age group were in need of active immunization.
Furthermore, the susceptibility rates for rubella are far from the value of national serosurveys for similar age
groups (8%) and even further from the target set by the National Plan for Measles and Congenital Rubella
Elimination launched in 2003. For females of reproductive age, immunization is an effective but underutilized
method of CRS prevention and although rubella vaccine is free charge for these women and pre-conception
screening is available, these opportunities remain substantially underutilised.