Rubella seroprevalence among healthy individuals in Izmir, Turkey.

In order to assess immunity to rubella in Izmir, Turkey, a total of 600 persons of 1-70 years of age were selected with cluster sampling. Of the 597 subjects, 120(20.1%) was susceptible to the rubella according to their serum antibody levels. Of children 1 to 6 years of age, 50.9% was found to be serologically susceptible to rubella. Rubella protection rates showed a age-related increase, reaching maximum in the 15-19 age group, in which 98.1% of these subjects had antibody titre above the full protective level. Of the 126 females in the reproductive age group, only 4(3.1%) were found to be serologically susceptible to rubella. Logistic regression analysis showed that among the several independent variables, only age (p< 0.001) was significantly associated with rubella protective antibody levels. Epidemiological studies should continue as the epidemiological characteristics of the disease may change depending on the uptake of MMR vaccination.