Anti-rubella antibodies seroprevalence among pregnant women, attending antenatal

Pregnant women represent a population category at high risk of severe rubella infection, capable of adversely affecting their fetus. This study was conducted to determine the anti-rubella antibodies seroprevalence, among pregnant women attending antenatal care at the Sino-Gabonese Friendship Hospital in Franceville. A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted at the Sino-Gabonese Friendship Hospital in Franceville, from April to June 2023. Using a structured, pre-established and pre-tested questionnaire, sociodemographic, and obstetrical characteristics, were obtained. Three milliliters of serum obtained after centrifugation of the 10 ml of blood sample collected from the participants, were used to measure rubella-specific IgG antibody levels using the OnSite Rapid Test Rubella IgG/IgM COMBO lateral flow immunochromatographic test. Results were considered significant at p≤0.05. The study included 107 pregnant women attending antenatal care. With a mean age of 27.9±7.1 years, anti-Rubella IgG antibodies were found in 87 pregnant women, indicating an overall seroprevalence of 81.30% (95% CI: [0.72 - 0.87). Of these, 6.9% (n = 6) of the women were serum anti-Rubivirus IgM carriers. In univariate analysis, it was indicated that pregnant women in the study aged between 21-30 years (OR =0.33; 95% CI: [0.12-0.9] p=0.0027), student (OR =6.35; 95% CI: [1.39-29.09] p=0.001), or without professional status (OR =0.05; 95% CI: [0.01- 0.27] p<0.001), high school education (OR =8.24; 95% CI: [2.83-23.96] p<0.001), single (OR =0.3; 95% CI: [0.11-0.85] p=0.0021) or cohabiting OR =3.91; 95% CI: [1.21-12.64] p=0.0017) Residing in an urban area (OR =49; 95% CI: [1.43-16.75] p=0.006),