Seroprevalence of Rubella Antibodies among Women in Rawalpindi and Islamabad

Basharat Ullah Khan; Muhammad Kamran; Naseer Ali Shah; Haroon Ahmed

doi:10.35787/jimdc.v14i1.1148

Basharat Ullah Khan Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad, Pakistan
Muhammad Kamran Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad, Pakistan
Naseer Ali Shah Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad, Pakistan
Haroon Ahmed Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad, Pakistan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.35787/jimdc.v14i1.1148

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of Rubella immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies and associated risk factors among women in the twin cities of Pakistan.

Methodology: This retrospective study involved the collection of 838 blood samples from women at Medicare Hospital Rawalpindi, Holy Family Hospital (HFH) Rawalpindi, and Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Islamabad and was conducted from May 2020 to April 2021. Rubella IgG antibodies were detected in the samples using the Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immunoassay (CMIA) method, and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 24.

Results: Of the 838 blood samples tested for Rubella IgG antibodies, seroreactivity and seropositivity was highest in the age group of 21-31 years. The prevalence of positive cases reached 96.82%, peaking in November, while negative cases were at 15.38%, peaking in May. These results indicate that many women possess antibodies against the Rubella virus.

Conclusion: The frequency of seropositivity and seroreactivity was elevated during winter. Socioeconomic factors may have contributed to the high prevalence of Rubella cases. Serosurveys should be conducted nationwide. Pakistan should include the MMR vaccine in its national Expanded Program of Immunization (EPI) as it is both effective and affordable.

Keywords: Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immunoassay (CMIA), Extended Program of Immunization (EPI), Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR), Prevalence, Rubella.