Last modified: 2019-02-13
Abstract
Sero-prevalence of rubella among pregnant women in Sub-Saharan Africa: a meta-analysis
Siraj Hussen1*, Zemenu Yohannes1, Solomon Asnake 1
1 College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia
Email: Siraj Husen sirajhu123@gmail.com
Zemenu Yohannes zemenu2013@gmail.com
Solomon Asnake asnakesol@yahoo.com
Abstract
Background: Rubella infection is still one cause of preventable congenital birth defects and permanent organ damage especially in developing countries. The women are infected before conception and during the first trimester of pregnancy, the unborn child to develop up to 90% chance of congenital rubella syndrome.
There is limitation of data regarding sero- prevalence of rubella for pregnant women in Sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, this study was done to determine the pooled sero- prevalence of Rubella for pregnant women in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Methods: The PRISMA guidelines protocol was followed to write the systematic review and meta-analysis. Published studies were searched in Medline, PubMed, Google scholar, advance google, HINARI and Cochrane Library. The study search terms are: “rubella” OR “rubeo*” AND “seroepidemiology*”OR“seroprevalen*”OR “prevalen*”OR “seroimmun*”OR “rubella antibod*” AND “pregnan*”AND “Sub-Saharan Africa”.The heterogeneity of studies were weighed using Cochran’s Q test and I2 test statistics. Publication bias was assessed by Egger’s test.
Results: Twenty-eight studies were included in this meta–analysis of Rubella virus. The pooled sero-positivity prevalence of rubella IgG &IgM for pregnant women in Sub-Saharan African was 89.0% (95%CI: 84.6-92.3) and 5.1% (95%CI: 2.6-9.9), respectively.
Conclusion: This meta-analysis showed that sero-negativity of rubella for pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa is high compared to other studies and WHO threshold of women of child bearing age. This findings calls for primary health care providers teach the community vulnerable of rubella and its burden, sub-Saharan Africa countries shall be introduce rubella vaccination strategy.
Key word: Meta-analysis, Rubella virus, pregnant women, Sub-Saharan Africa