Age specific rubella seroprevalence of an unvaccinated population of adolescents in Ankara, Turkey

Kanbur N., Derman O., Kutluk T., Kinik E.

JAPANESE JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES, vol.56, no.1, pp.23-25, 2003 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 56 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2003
  • Journal Name: JAPANESE JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.23-25
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: No

Abstract

This study was designed to detect the age-specific rubella seroprevalence of an unvaccinated population of adolescents in Ankara, Turkey. Four hundred and forty adolescents (227 females, 213 males), aged 9-16 years, who were admitted to the Adolescent Unit from July to August 2000 were included in this study. For each participant, a questionnaire was completed and rubella-specific IgG antibodies were screened quantitatively by enzyme-linked fluorescent assay. Of the 440 patients screened for rubella antibodies, 32 (7.3%) were seronegative. Rubella seronegativity values according to sex and age groups were as follows: 15.3, 6.6, and 1.3% in females, and 12.0, 6.1, and 6.2% in males, in the age groups of 9-10, 11-13, and 14-16 years, respectively. The routine health supervision visit recommended between the age of 11 and 12 is an ideal time to immunize unvaccinated adolescents.