Rubella in Female Migrant Factory Workers in Shenzhen, China

Rubella-containing vaccines were included in China's childhood National Expanded Program of Immunization (NEPI) in December 2007, but monitoring levels of immunity in adults is also important. Rubella remains a public health threat in mainland China, and measuring immunity among mothers of childbearing age is critical to preventing Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) which leads to severe birth defects in infants. In Shenzhen, China migrant women of childbearing age make up a large proportion of the factory workforces.

Our study measured the levels of rubella antibodies and evaluated factors connected with rubella immunity among female migrant factory workers in Shenzhen, China. From May through June of 2009, serum samples were collected from 518 female migrant workers, aged 18-55, working in 44 randomly selected factories in Shenzhen. Samples were tested for Rubella Immunoglobulin G (IgG) using a commercial Enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay kit. Self-reported vaccination histories and socio-demographic information were also collected.

Results showed that of 518 female workers, 402 (77.6%) were immune to rubella. Significant differences in seronegativity were dependent on region of origin, being without a job contract, age group, marital status and seronegativity of measles. Seroprevalence of antibodies to rubella in Shenzhen, China amongst female migrant workers is too low to provide immunity in the population. Given the high numbers of women of childbearing age amongst Shenzhen migrant factory workers coming from many provinces across China, local health authorities in Shenzhen should consider combining new rubella immunization programs with existing measles immunization efforts in this population.

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