Rubella seroprevalence among women aged 15-39 years in Morocco

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.