Acute rubella virus infection among women with spontaneous abortion in Mwanza City, Tanzania

Lukombodzo Lulandala

Acute rubella virus infection among women with spontaneous abortion in Mwanza City, Tanzania - Mwanza, Tanzania: JCDR Research & Publications Private Limited & Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences [CUHAS – Bugando] 2017/3 - Pages QC25 - Journal of clinical and diagnostic research: JCDR Volume 11 Issue 3 .

Abstract:

Introduction: Acute rubella virus infection in early pregnancy has been associated with poor pregnancy outcome ranging from spontaneous abortion, stillbirth and multiple birth defects known as Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS). Despite its importance the prevalence of acute rubella virus infections is not known among women with spontaneous abortion in most centres in developing countries.

Aim: The present study was aimed to determine the seroprevalence of acute rubella infection among women with spontaneous abortion in Mwanza city.

Materials and Methods: A total of 268 women with spontaneous abortion were enrolled from four different hospitals in Mwanza city between November 2015 and April 2016. Blood samples were collected; sera were extracted and stored at -80°C until processing. Acute rubella virus infection was diagnosed by the detection of rubella specific IgM antibodies using indirect Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) as per manufacturer’s instructions. Data were analysed by using STATA version 11.

Results: The mean age of enrolled women was 26.3±5.6 years. The prevalence of acute rubella virus infection was found to be 9/268 (3.7%, 95% CI: 1-5). Only women residing in urban areas (AOR: 5.65, 95% CI: 1.15-27.77, p=0.035) were found to predict acute rubella virus infection among cases with spontaneous abortion in Mwanza city.

Conclusion: About four out of hundred women residing in urban areas with spontaneous abortion in Mwanza are acutely infected with rubella virus highlighting the potential of this virus in contributing to poor pregnancy outcome in this setting.
= Developing countries, Miscarriage, Rubella specific IgM antibodies

Phone: +255 28 298 3384 Fax: +255 28 298 3386 Email: vc@bugando.ac.tz Website: www.bugando.ac.tz
Catholic University of  Health and Allied Sciences - CUHAS
Directorate of ICT @ 2024