Rubella susceptibility in women of childbearing age.

OBJECTIVE

The major purpose of the study was to determine the number of rubella-susceptible women attending an urban family-planning clinic.

DESIGN

A retrospective, descriptive survey was conducted of all new clients attending the clinic over a 3-month period.

SETTING

A family-planning clinic located in a small city in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The clinic offers primary health care to women of childbearing age.

PARTICIPANTS

The 325 clients involved in the study were young women (mean age = 20 years) from racially diverse backgrounds.

INTERVENTIONS: Educational programs for both the health-care provider and the consumer regarding rubella susceptibility are necessary. Rubella screening and re-immunization also must be a major focus of nursing care.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Hematologic screening for rubella immunity.

RESULTS

Of the 325 clients surveyed, 35, or 10.7%, were found to be susceptible to rubella.

CONCLUSIONS

Although rubella is usually a mild disease for the women it infects, it can have devastating consequences for their offspring if women are infected during their 1st trimester of pregnancy. The study found a sufficient number of women susceptible to rubella to warrant screening for all women of childbearing age.