Seroprevalence Of Rubella Antibody Titres Amongst School Going Children

Abstract

Rubella, caused by the rubella virus, poses a significant risk to pregnant women, leading to congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) in infants. Despite being a self-limiting disease, its consequences during pregnancy can be severe. Rubella vaccination has been crucial in reducing its prevalence. However, inadequate vaccination coverage poses challenges, especially in developing countries like India. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 105 school-going girls aged 7-15 years in Chennai. Blood samples were collected to assess rubella IgG antibody titres using ELISA. Children with documented primary rubella vaccination were included, while those with chronic illnesses or undocumented immunizations were excluded. Of the participants, 80% had protective rubella IgG antibody titres (>10 IU/ml), while 20% had titres below the protective level. Majority received two doses of rubella vaccine (54.3%), while 45.7% received a single dose. Adolescents aged 14-15 years showed the highest proportion (85.7%) of inadequate antibody levels. There was a significant decrease in protective antibody titres with increasing age (p<0.01). The study highlights a seroprevalence of 80% for protective rubella antibodies among school-going girls. However, a substantial proportion, especially adolescents, had inadequate antibody levels. This underscores the need for additional rubella vaccination, possibly through the inclusion of the MMR vaccine in the immunization schedule, to enhance population immunity and prevent CRS.