Rubella IgG antibody in women of child-bearing age in Oyo state.

Abstract

A total of 230 females of childbearing age from four different towns in Oyo State, Nigeria were screened for rubella specific IgG antibody using a sandwich ELISA test kit. Rubella IgG was detected in 215 (93.5%) of the females. 96% of the non-pregnant, 87.5% of the primigravida and 76% of the multigravida screened positive to the antibody. Ogbomoso, Ibadan, Oyo and Iseyin, respectively, had 96.1%, 94.2%, 90.5% and 88.2% of their samples positive for the rubella IgG antibody. It is imperative for the government to ensure that rubella vaccine is made available and routine so as to avert the risk of congenital rubella syndrome.