Measles Neutralization Antibodies and Some Related Factors in Women of Reproductive-age in Hanoi, Vietnam

Aims: Our study aimed to determine neutralization antibodies against measles virus and some related factors in women of childbearing-age from 18 to 30 years old, in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Methodology: In 2018, a cross-sectional study was conducted on 1,235 childbearing-age women from 18-30 years old in Bavi district, Hanoi, Vietnam. The study participants were interviewed by using a structured questionnaire which included demographic information, and history of measles. The measles neutralization antibodies (MNA) of these participants were quantified by a plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT). The data were analyzed using the Epidata 3.1 and Stata 14.2 software.

Results: The results showed that only 58.5% had MNA at sufficient protective levels (≥120mIU/ml), up to 12.5% were negative for MNA, and 358 women (29%) had MNA at insufficient protective levels. In addition, we found that the participants’ working as public employees, having two children, and being ≥ 25 years of age were all positively associated with the sufficient protective antibody levels (P<0.05). A weak positive correlation between age and MNA titers was determined (r= 0.26).

Conclusion: Approximately half (41.5%) of the women of childbearing age in this study did not have sufficient protective antibodies against measles virus. The study results suggest that it is necessary to boost measles vaccine to prevent the sporadic measles infection in women of childbearing age in Hanoi and to quantify the dynamics of maternal measles antibody levels in infants born from these women, so as to provide evidences to control measles incidence in children up to 9 months of age in the future.