Abstract

SEROPREVALENCE OF RUBELLA IGM ANTIBODIES AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING ANTE-NATAL CLINICS IN KADUNA METROPOLIS, KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

H. K. Mangga*, Maryam Aminu and M. A. Isa

Abstract

Rubella is an infection caused by the rubella virus; it can cause severe harm to the unborn child. The virus is transmitted through respiratory droplet or trans-placental infection of the fetus during pregnancy. Therefore, this study was aimed to determine the seroprevalence of IgM to rubella virus among pregnant women attending ante-natal clinics in Kaduna Metropolis, using a qualitative rubella IgM ELISA kit (Genesis Diagnotics Ltd, Cambridgeshire UK). Of the 400 pregnant women screened for IgM to rubella virus, 265 were seropositive giving seroprevalence of 66.3%. Seroprevalence of 55.9%, 81.9% and 60.9% were obtained among pregnant women attending Yusuf Dantsoho Memorial Hospital, Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital and Gwamna Awan General Hospital respectively, with high statistical significance (P

Keywords: Rubella Virus, Seroprevalence, Pregnant Women and IgM ELISA-Kit.