Rubella seroprevalence among young women Taipei county after routine measles, mumps and rubella immunization program

To better target rubella immunization efforts by determining the age-specific rubella seroprevalence and the related factors for children in Taiwan after the 1986 national vaccine policy. A cross-sectional study was conducted for these girls aged 10 years (1994 cohorts), 13 years (1991 cohorts), 16 years (1988 cohorts), and 19-22 years (1982-1985 cohorts), respectively, in 2004 in Taipei county. Participants were given a questionnaire detailing family income, education level, ethnicity of mother, number of siblings, and history of rubella infection. Possible predictors of rubella seropositivity and differences in seroprevalence were calculated by multivariate logistic regression analysis. A total of 826 cases were recruited. The geometric mean titer of rubella IgG antibody was 60.7± 2.1 IU/ml. Rubella seropositive rates were 282/287 (98.3%) in children aged 10 years, 234/235 (99.6%) in aged 13 years, 179/185 (96.8%) in aged 16 years, and 110/119 (92. 4%) in aged 19-22 years. Older age, low maternal education level, and foreign mothers were correlated with seronegativity (p < 0.05). The MMR vaccine program has induced effectively the immunity against rubella. However, to eliminate congenital rubella syndrome, more effort should be taken for the vaccination of susceptible adolescents and young women.