Seroprevalence of rubella-specific IgM and IgG antibodies among pregnant women seen in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria

Figures & data

Table 1 Age distribution of pregnant and nonpregnant women with IgM and IgG antibodies

Age group, years	Number analyzed	Rubella IgM			Rubella IgG
		Number positive	Percentage	P-value	Number positive	Percentage	P-value
Pregnant women*
18–22	23	10	43.5		20	87
23–27	52	21	40.4		47	90.4
28–32	58	22	38	0.113	56	96.6	0.305
33–37	21	4	19		21	100
38–42	5	4	80		4	80
43–47	1	1	100		1	100
Nonpregnant women**
17–19	2	2	100		2	100
20–22	7	2	28.6	0.151	6	85.7	0.924
23–25	10	3	30		9	90
Above 26	1	1	100		1	100

Notes:

* Rubella IgM, χ²=8.891, df=5, P=0.113; rubella IgG, χ²=6.010, df=5, P=0.305;

** rubella IgM, χ²=4.549, df=3, P=0.151; rubella IgG, χ²=3.333, df =3, P=0.924.

Abbreviation: Ig, immunoglobulin.

Table 2 Seroprevalence of rubella IgM and IgG antibodies among pregnant women according to their trimester of pregnancy

Trimester of pregnancy	Number analyzed	Rubella IgM			Rubella IgG
		Number positive	Percentage	P-value	Number positive	Percentage	P-value
First	31	11	35.5		28	90.3
Second	82	33	40.2	0.896	79	96.3	0.253
Third	47	18	38.3		42	89.4
Total	160	62	38.8		149	93.1

Notes: Rubella IgM, χ²=0.220, df=2, P=0.896; rubella IgG, χ²=2.745, df=2, P=0.253.

Abbreviation: Ig, immunoglobulin.

Table 3 Seroprevalence of rubella IgM and IgG antibodies among pregnant women according to their reproductive characteristics

Reproductive characteristic	Number analyzed	Rubella IgM			Rubella IgG
		Number positive	Percentage	P-value	Number positive	Percentage	P-value
Term deliveries
None	66	24	36.4		59	89.4
1–4	76	29	38.2		72	94.7
5–8	15	8	53.3	0.671	15	100	0.381
9–12	3	1	33.3		3	100
Preterm deliveries
None	144	56	38.9	0.914	133	92.4	0.252
1–4	16	6	37.5		16	100
Spontaneous abortions
None	127	48	37.8	0.627	117	92.1	0.327
1–4	33	14	42.4		32	97
Live births
None	68	26	38.2		61	89.7
1–4	73	28	42.4	0.984	69	94.5	0.413
5–8	17	7	41.2		17	100
9–12	2	1	50		2	100
Stillbirths
None	146	55	37.7		135	92.5
1–4	13	7	53.8	0.377	13	100	0.568
5–8	1	0	0		1	100
Surviving children
None	71	28	39.4		64	90.1
1–4	75	28	37.3	0.915	71	94.7	0.317
5–8	14	6	42.9		14	100
Malformed children
None	157	62	39.5	0.164	157	92.4	0.859
1–4	3	0	0		3	100

Abbreviation: Ig, immunoglobulin.

Table 4 Seroprevalence of rubella IgM and IgG antibodies among pregnant women according to their sociodemographic data

Sociodemographic data	Number analyzed	Rubella IgM			Rubella IgG
		Number positive	Percentage	P-value	Number positive	Percentage	P-value
Marital status
Married	158	61	38.6		147	93
Separated	1	1	100	0.330	1	100	0.928
Engaged	1	0	0		1	100
Educational status
None	11	6	54.5		11	100
Primary	6	2	33.3	0.612	6	100	0.601
Secondary	40	17	42.5		36	90
Tertiary	103	37	36		96	93.2
Religion
Christianity	64	23	36	0.551	59	92.2	0.702
Islam	96	39	40.6		90	93.8
Occupation
Student	59	24	40.7		55	93.2
Worker	61	22	36.1	0.859	57	93.4	0.983
Housewife	40	16	40		37	92.5

Abbreviation: Ig, immunoglobulin.

Table 5 Seroprevalence of rubella IgM and IgG antibodies among pregnant women according to risk factors

Risk factors	Number analyzed	Rubella IgM			Rubella IgG
		Number positive	Percentage	P-value	Number positive	Percentage	P-value
Marriage type
Polygamous	34	15	44.1	0.469	34	100	0.074
Monogamous	126	47	37.3		115	91.3
Marriage
First	145	57	39.3	0.651	134	92.4	0.269
Second or more	15	5	33.3		15	100
Occupation type
Involving children	78	30	38.5		71	91
Not involving children	25	9	36	0.931	25	100	0.304
Unemployed	57	23	40.4		53	93
Husband’s occupation
Involving children	17	6	35.3		16	94.1
Not involving children	137	53	38.7	0.816	127	92.7	0.776
Unemployed	6	3	50		6	100
Type of housing
Urban	129	50	38.8	0.996	121	93.8	0.492
Rural	31	12	38.7		28	90.3
Number of children living in house
None	62	22	35.5		57	91.9
Below 5	56	25	44.6		50	89.3
5–9	28	11	39.3	0.428	28	100	0.476
10–14	10	3	30		10	100
15–19	1	1	100		1	100
20 and above	3	0	0		3	100

Abbreviation: Ig, immunoglobulin.

Figure 1 Frequency of the level of awareness and knowledge of rubella.

Note: 1,2,…,8 represent different factors or variables as listed beside the figure. For example, 1 - awareness and knowledge of measles, 2 - awareness and knowledge of transmission of measles, etc. Low and high values can be seen from the frequency (number of pregnant women).

Table 6 Seroprevalence of rubella IgM and IgG antibodies among pregnant and nonpregnant women according to clinical symptoms associated with rubella

Clinical symptoms	Number analyzed	Rubella IgM			Rubella IgG
		Number positive	Percentage	P-value	Number positive	Percentage	P-value
Pregnant women
Mild fever
Yes	26	10	38.5	0.974	25	96.2	0.505
No	134	52	38.8		124	92.5
Lymphadenopathy
Yes	0	0	0		0	0
No	160	62	38.8		149	93.1
Rash
Yes	5	2	40	0.954	5	100	0.537
No	155	60	38.7		144	93
Headache
Yes	9	3	33.3	0.731	8	89	0.605
No	151	59	39.1		141	93.4
Arthralgia
Yes	23	7	30.4	0.376	22	95.7	0.605
No	137	55	40.1		127	92.7
Nonpregnant women
Mild fever
Yes	2	1	50	0.761	2	100	0.619
No	18	7	38.9		16	88.8
Lymphadenopathy
Yes	1	0	0	0.402	1	100	0.732
No	19	8	42.1		17	89.5
Rash
Yes	1	0	0	0.402	1	100	0.732
No	19	8	42.1		17	89.5
Headache
Yes	1	0	0	0.402	1	100	0.732
No	19	8	42.1		17	89.5
Arthralgia
Yes	2	1	50	0.761	2	100	0.619
No	18	7	38.9		16	88.8

Abbreviation: Ig, immunoglobulin.