Investigation of Rubella Susceptibility Rate Among Women of Childbearing Age in a Private Medical Center, Van Province, Turkey

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to determine the rubella susceptibility rate in women in the ages of 15-49, who admitted to the microbiology laboratory of a private medical center in the city of Van in May 2006 until April 2008. The significance of this definitive study is that it provides an insight to the current rubella sensitivity level in the city of Van.Method: Rubella IgG antibody results for childbearing age women included in the study were retrospectively analyzed. In order to determine age specific sensitivity, cases were divided into seven groups of distinct age intervals. Blood samples were collected from women who went to polyclinics for various reasons, and sera were analyzed using micro particle enzyme immunoassay method. During analyses, rubella IgG antibody titers were classified negative, equivocal, and positive in accordance with manufacturer analysis criteria. Amount, percentage, average and standard deviation values were used in defining the data.Results: The mean age of these 378 women who were included in the study was 29.50 ± 5.91 (ranging from 15 to 49). Among these, 91.5 % (n=346) was in between the ages of 20 to 39. Rubella IgG was negative in 2.4 % (n=9) cases, equivocal was found in 2.4 % (n=9) cases, and 95.2 % cases were positive. Rubella susceptibility was found 18.2 % in the age group of 15-19, 5.6 % in the age group of 20-24, 3.3 % in the age group of 25-29, 2.2 % in the age group of 30-34, 7.5 % in the age group of 35-39, 10% in the age group of 40-44, and 0 % in the age group of 45-49.Conclusion: It has been determined that 4.8 % of the fertile women who applied to a private medical center for a treatment in the city of Van, which is one of the biggest cities in eastern Turkey, were sensitive to rubella and were under risk in terms of delivering babies with congenital rubella syndrome. Vaccination before pregnancy and also after the pregnancy for those women who have seronegative is critical because it prevents against congenital rubella syndrome. In the upcoming years, results obtained with this study will help consider effects of the Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccine that were included in routine childhood vaccination schedule in 2006.