Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  2005 Mar;48(3):732-740.

A Study on Seroprevalence of Rubella Specific Antibody in Korean College Women

• Cho HJ
• Jung H
• Lee CG

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Rubella viral infection in pregnant women is frequently transmitted to the fetus, resulting in the fetal damage. The incidence of rubella infection has decreased due to a nation-wide rubella vaccination program, but, vulnerability to rubella infection has been detected in 10-20% by serology test. The purpose of this study is to assess the rubella specific immune status of a group of reproductive ages.
METHODS
The seroprevalence of rubella was determined in the study group that consists of 430 university girl students (ages 19-23 years). Rubella specific IgG antibody titer of the girl's sera was checked by enzyme immunoassay. And we questioned about the knowledge of rubella infection and wanted age for marriage.
RESULTS
According to our study, the seropositivity rate of the women was 73.0% for rubella. And mean IgG antibody titer was 67.09 +/- 57.75 IU/mL. There was no significant difference between immunized groups during highschool students and others. Nine girls had natural immunity from rubella infection and they all had positive IgG antibody titers. And there were no statistical differences of IgG positive rate according to age.
CONCLUSION
With such a high susceptible density of reproductive women, vaccination against rubella should be enforced more actively in order to prevent possible outbreaks of the congenital rubella syndrome, especially in reproductive women. And education about rubella infection, immunity and pregnancy outcome after rubella infection should be enforced.

Keyword

Vaccination; Congenital rubella syndrome

MeSH Terms

Disease Outbreaks
Education
Female
Fetus
Humans
Immunity, Innate
Immunoenzyme Techniques
Immunoglobulin G
Incidence
Marriage
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Outcome
Pregnant Women
Rubella Syndrome, Congenital
Rubella*
Seroepidemiologic Studies*
Vaccination
Immunoglobulin G