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    East Mediterr Health J. 2009 May-Jun;15(3):526-31.

    Rubella seroprevalence among women aged 15-39 years in Morocco.

    Caidi H, Bloom S, Azilmaat M, Benjouad A, Reef S, El Aouad R.

    National Institute of Hygiene, Rabat, Morocco. hcaidi@lycos.com

    This study was designed to determine the age-specific rubella seroprevalence in women of childbearing age in Morocco and to contribute to the development of a rubella vaccination strategy in the country. Of 967 women aged 15-39 years tested in 2000, 161 (16.6%) were susceptible to rubella based on absence of IgG antibodies. A significantly higher rate of susceptibility among women aged 15-19 years was observed (29.3%) compared with age 35-39 years (8.3%). An estimated 77,562 live births occur annually to rubella-susceptible women. No statistical difference in seroprevalence was seen between women in rural and urban areas (81.5% and 85.0% respectively). A substantial risk of rubella infection exists for Moroccan women of childbearing age.

    PMID: 19731768 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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