Seroprevalence of rubella virus infection among antenatal care clients of Halaba Town public health facilities, southern Ethiopia

Rubella virus infection during pregnancy has several effects on the developing fetus. However, little is known about the epidemiology of the infection in Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the seroprevalence of rubella virus infection on consecutive 299 pregnant women attending antenatal care clinics in public health facilities in Halaba Town, Southern Ethiopia. Structured questionnaires were used to collect information on socio-demographic and reproductive characteristics. Venous blood samples were collected, and sera were tested for anti-rubella IgM and IgG using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Anti-rubella IgG and IgM were detected in 265 (88.6%) and 15 (5.0%) of 299 participants, respectively. Pregnant women in their first trimester [crude odds ratio (cOR) = 4.26; 95% CI (1.47, 12.4)] were at increased risk of having anti-rubella IgM compared to those in their second and third trimesters. Urban residents [cOR = 4.06; 95% CI (1.94, 8.47)] were with a higher percentage of IgG positivity compared to rural residents. Anti-rubella IgG positivity was higher in housewives [cOR = 2.94; 95% CI (1.07, 8.04)] compared to self-employed women. Our findings showed a high prevalence of rubella virus exposure, and considerable percentages of recent infection and susceptible women to contracting the infection, emphasizing the importance of congenital rubella syndrome in the research area.