TITLE:
Rubella Immunity among Pregnant Women in Bangui, Central African Republic
AUTHORS:
Wilfrid Sylvain Nambei, Junior Nguerenam-Ouefio, Arsène Gbamonza, Edwige Régine Kodia-Lenguetama
KEYWORDS:
Rubella Immunity, Pregnant Women, Central African Republic
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Immunology,
Vol.12 No.4,
December
28,
2022
ABSTRACT: Sero-positivity rates of the rubella virus among pregnant women vary from
country to country widely throughout the world. In the Central African Republic,
rubella vaccination is not included in the national immunization schedule. Thus,
we propose to evaluate the immune status of pregnant women. This was an
analytical retrospective study that consulted the records of pregnant women
received in prenatal consultations at the Bangui Community Hospital maternity
ward from January to December 2020. Socio-demographic and laboratory data (IgM,
IgG) were collected from January to June 2021. Chi2 test was used. A
total of 289 pregnant women were analyzed. Women with an IgM+ response
accounted for 4.15%. Those with an IgG+ were 14.87%.
The distribution by age group shows that patients aged 20 - 24 and those aged 25 - 29 had a rubella profile suggesting persistent infection (p = 0.010). The
average age of women included was 28 (±6) years. The average parity for the
entire sample was 2.18 (1.93). At any age pregnant women were not significantly
exposed to rubella infection (p = 0.96), (ORbrut
= 1.03; CI95% = [0.32 - 3.34]). Both immunized and
non-immunized individuals are similarly exposed [OR = 0.86; 95% IC95% = 0.44 - 1.68] with no difference (p = 0.96). Rubella
infection remains particularly severe when it occurs during pregnancy. It would
be wise to seek immunity in all girls of childbearing age in order to rule out
any risk of rubella embryopathy.