Assessment of Materno-foetal Transfer of Antitetanus Immunoglobulin G in Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Jos

Abstract

Introduction: This study evaluates the coverage efficacy of the tetanus immunization pro- gramme in Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Nigeria and certain factors that affect the efficiency of maternofoetal transfer of tetanus toxoid (TT) IgG antibodies. Materials and Methods: Sera from 43 mother-baby pairs selected randomly in JUTH were investigated for TT IgG antibodies using enzyme linked immune-sorbent assay (ELISA) tech- nique. TT IgG antibodies were detected in 36 and 38 mothers and babies respectively. Results: Thirty-six (83.7%) and 38 (88.4%) mothers and babies respectively were found to be seropositive (equivalent to or greater than 0.151IU/ml of TT IgG antibodies). Three (7.0%) seronegative mothers had seropositive babies. One (2.3%) seropositive mother had a seronegative baby. A highly significant correlation was observed between maternal and fetal TT IgG antibodies level (r=0.905). Twenty-one (58.3%) of the 36 seropositive mothers had concentrations lower than their respective babies. The ratio of the mean concentrations of the TT IgG antibodies of cord blood to maternal blood (C/M ratio) was less than one. Maternofoe- tal transfer of TT IgG antibodies was found to be unrelated to the baby’s gender, weight and the mode of delivery. Conclusion: The study underscores the need to improve on the current immunization pro- gramme in JUTH and for further studies to understand how maternal characteristics affect the maternofoetal transfer of TT IgG antibodies in JUTH.