Seroprevalence of Rubella in Pregnant Women at the Military Hospital Oued Eddahab Agadir, Morocco

Abstract

Rubella is an epidemic rash that is generally benign, but dangerous for pregnant women in the early stages of pregnancy, due to the teratogenic power of the virus. It causes spontaneous abortion, fetal death, premature delivery and congenital malformations known as congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). The aim of this study was to determine the rubella immune status in all pregnant women consulting or being tested at the Medical Biology Department of the Oued Eddahab Military Hospital in Agadir. An 18-month retrospective cross-sectionnal study was conducted from January 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 to assess the IgG seroprevalence of rubella in 1393 pregnant women aged 19 to 43 years old of any gestationnal age using the Architect i1000SR Analyzer. Of the 1393 pregnant women tested, 1184 (85%) were seropositive. Despite of the vaccination recommandations after their anterior pregnancy, 07% of multiparous remained seronegativ. Preventive measures against congenital rubella must be reinforced and vaccination awareness campaigns, particularly for unimmunized multiparous women, remain essential.