Evaluation of Rubella Immunity in Relation with Mothers Admitted to the Postpartum Unit of Beasat Hospital in Sanandaj (2005)

Introduction: rubella is an acute serious viral infection in pregnancy. Rubella and resultant rubella syndrome (CRS) is still regarded as an important public health problem around the world. Islamic republic of Iran has implemented a nationwide vaccination program for measles- rubella in order to eradicate CRS in 1382. There is an imperative need for applied researches and collecting appropriate data in order to be informed about the result of the vaccination program. The aim of this research was to determine rubella immunity in relation with mothers admitted to postpartum unit of Be'asat hospital in Sanandaj.

Materials and Methods: This study was analytic descriptive and was included 204 women who were bedridden in the postpartum ward. Patients were divided into two groups randomly using simple random sampling. The data about personal, medical and obstetric history were obtained by using questionnaire while blood sampling was daily taken from the above-mentioned women accessibly. Then the taken blood samples were immediately operated on because of serum separation action every day. Assay of specific IgG antibodies concerning rubella was determined by using ELISA test. The data were analyzed by ANOVA and T- Test using SPSS software.

Result: Majority of subjects (31/4%) were 25-29 years old who had (35/8%) primary literacy and were city-dwellers (65/2%). In addition, 49% of them were primipara. 54/9% of them had history of rubella vaccination. 82/4% of them had no information about rubella complications in pregnancy. Overall; 93.7% of participants were immune to rubella. There were no significant association between immunity levels and other patients characteristics such as individual characteristics, obstetric and rubella vaccination histories and finally having rubella itself.

Conclusion: According to our findings the general immunity level is acceptable, but it seems that this level of immunity isn’t merely the result of the mass campaign vaccination. As sporadic cases of disease may still occur and in view of the fact that rubella antibodies might wane after spending a period of time; a screening program is exceedingly necessary to determine rubella immunity levels before marriage or pregnancy and finally vaccination of susceptible persons.