{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,24]],"date-time":"2026-09-24T04:31:11Z","timestamp":1790224271584,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":58,"publisher":"American Public Health Association","issue":"10","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Am J Public Health"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2000,10,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>OBJECTIVES: Although rubella serosusceptibility among women of reproductive age in West Africa ranges from 10% to 30%, congenital rubella syndrome has not been reported. In Ghana, rubella immunization and serologic testing are unavailable. Our objectives were to identify congenital rubella syndrome cases, ascertain rubella antibody seroprevalence during pregnancy, and recommend strategies for congenital rubella syndrome surveillance. METHODS: Congenital rubella syndrome cases were identified through prospective surveillance and retrospective surveys of hospital records. A rubella serosurvey of pregnant urban and rural women was performed. RESULTS: Eighteen infants born within a 5-month period met the congenital rubella syndrome case definitions, coinciding with a 9-fold increase in presentation of infantile congenital cataract. The congenital rubella syndrome rate for this otherwise unrecorded rubella epidemic was conservatively estimated to be 0.8 per 1000 live births. A postepidemic rubella immunity rate of 92.6% was documented among 405 pregnant women; susceptibility was significantly associated with younger age (P = .000) and ethnicity (northern tribes, P = .024). CONCLUSIONS: Congenital rubella syndrome occurs in Ghana but is not reported. Information about congenital rubella syndrome and rubella in sub-Saharan Africa is needed to evaluate inclusion of rubella vaccine in proposed measles control campaigns.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.2105\/ajph.90.10.1555","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2008,11,29]],"date-time":"2008-11-29T13:33:29Z","timestamp":1227965609000},"page":"1555-1561","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":48,"title":["Unseen blindness, unheard deafness, and unrecorded death and disability: congenital rubella in Kumasi, Ghana"],"prefix":"10.2105","volume":"90","member":"844","reference":[{"key":"p_1","first-page":"35","volume":"3","author":"Gregg NM","year":"1941","journal-title":"Trans Ophthalmol Soc Aust."},{"key":"p_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(05)70283-X"},{"key":"p_3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/oxfordjournals.aje.a115138"},{"key":"p_5","first-page":"75","volume":"47","author":"Irons B","year":"1998","journal-title":"West Indian Med J."},{"key":"p_6","first-page":"5","volume":"10","author":"Pan American Health Organization","year":"1998","journal-title":"EPI Newsletter."},{"key":"p_7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.281.6.561"},{"key":"p_8","first-page":"69","volume":"75","author":"Robertson SE","year":"1997","journal-title":"Bull World Health Organ."},{"key":"p_9","unstructured":"Salisbury DM, Savinykh AI. Rubella and congenital rubella syndrome in developing countries. 1991. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 1991. Document EPI\/GAG\/91\/WP.15."},{"key":"p_10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/ije\/28.6.1176"},{"key":"p_11","first-page":"55","volume":"75","author":"Cutts FT","year":"1997","journal-title":"Bull World Health Organ."},{"key":"p_12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/clinids\/7.Supplement_1.S29"},{"key":"p_13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/clinids\/7.Supplement_1.S22"},{"key":"p_14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0165-5876(89)90062-1"},{"key":"p_15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/eye.1988.131"},{"key":"p_16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0886-3350(97)80040-5"},{"key":"p_17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/eye.1998.45"},{"key":"p_18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1469-8749.1997.tb07464.x"},{"key":"p_19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.312.7024.161"},{"key":"p_20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/S0950268800048640"},{"key":"p_21","unstructured":"Cutts FT, Best J, Siqueira M, Engstrom K, Robertson SE. Guidelines for surveillance of congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) and rubella. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; May 1999. Field Test Version WHO\/V&B\/ 99.22."},{"key":"p_22","unstructured":"WHO recommendations. Report of a Meeting on Preventing CRS: Immunization Strategies, Surveillance Needs. Geneva, 12-14 January, 2000. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2000:2-3. WHO\/V&B\/00.10. Available at: http:\/\/www.who.int\/vaccines-documents\/ docspdf00\/www508.pdf."},{"key":"p_23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0264-410X(92)90327-G"},{"key":"p_24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/S002217240002893X"},{"key":"p_25","unstructured":"Robertson S. Background document: data on rubella vaccination schedules. Report of a Meeting on Preventing CRS: Immunization Strategies, Surveillance Needs. Geneva, 12-14 January, 2000. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2000:65-77. WHO\/V&B\/00.10. Available at: http:\/\/www.who.int\/vaccines-documents\/ docspdf00\/www508.pdf."},{"key":"p_26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(96)91521-4"},{"key":"p_27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/ije\/24.2.453"},{"key":"p_28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.319.7223.1462"},{"key":"p_29","first-page":"146","volume":"50","author":"Sachdeva R","year":"1973","journal-title":"East Afr Med J."},{"key":"p_30","first-page":"242","volume":"25","author":"Axton JHM","year":"1979","journal-title":"Cent Afr J Med."},{"key":"p_31","first-page":"1","volume":"39","author":"Rubella","year":"1990","journal-title":"MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep."},{"key":"p_32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/S0950268800048639"},{"key":"p_33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/jcp.32.6.542"},{"key":"p_34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(82)92677-0"},{"key":"p_35","first-page":"333","volume":"69","year":"1994","journal-title":"Wkly Epidemiol Rec."},{"key":"p_36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/tropej\/32.2.79"},{"key":"p_37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/oxfordjournals.aje.a112204"},{"key":"p_38","first-page":"925","volume":"19","author":"Brand N","year":"1983","journal-title":"Isr J Med Sci."},{"key":"p_39","first-page":"110","volume":"8","author":"Owens CS","year":"1989","journal-title":"Pediatr Infect Dis J."},{"key":"p_40","first-page":"168","author":"Addy PAK","year":"1976","journal-title":"Ghana Med J."},{"key":"p_41","unstructured":"Olive JM. Preventing CRS. Report of a Meeting on Preventing CRS: Immunization Strategies, Surveillance Needs. Geneva, 12-14 January 2000. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2000:5-9. WHO\/V&B\/00.10. Available at: http:\/\/www.who.int\/vaccines-documents\/ docspdf00\/www508.pdf."},{"key":"p_42","unstructured":"Castillo Solorzano C. New horizons: control of rubella and prevention of CRS at PAHO\/AMRO. Report of a Meeting on Preventing CRS: Immunization Strategies, Surveillance Needs. Geneva, 12-14 January 2000. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2000:15-16. WHO\/V&B\/ 00.10. Available at: http:\/\/www.who.int\/vaccinesdocuments\/docspdf00\/www508.pdf."},{"key":"p_43","unstructured":"Santos JI. Control and elimination initiatives of rubella and CRS in Mexico. Report of a Meeting on Preventing CRS: Immunization Strategies, Surveillance Needs. 12-14 January, 2000. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2000:19-20. WHO\/V&B\/00.10. Available at: http:\/\/www.who.int\/vaccines-documents\/ docspdf00\/www508.pdf."},{"key":"p_44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/adc.49.1.36"},{"key":"p_45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1097\/00003446-198704000-00003"},{"key":"p_46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/clinids\/11.1.116"},{"key":"p_47","first-page":"394","volume":"51","year":"1976","journal-title":"Wkly Epidemiol Rec."},{"key":"p_48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0035-9203(77)90044-X"},{"key":"p_49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0001-706X(95)00087-U"},{"key":"p_50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0035-9203(85)90114-2"},{"key":"p_51","first-page":"931","volume":"58","author":"Clarke M","year":"1980","journal-title":"Bull World Health Organ."},{"key":"p_52","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/clinids\/7.Supplement_1.S68"},{"key":"p_53","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/clinids\/7.Supplement_1.S11"},{"key":"p_54","unstructured":"World Health Organization. Perinatal mortalitya listing of available information. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 1996. WHO\/FRH\/MSM\/96.7"},{"key":"p_55","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2307\/2061651"},{"key":"p_56","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"World Bank. Investing in Health: World Development Report 1993. NewYork, NY: Oxford University Press; 1993.","DOI":"10.1596\/978-0-1952-0890-0"},{"key":"p_57","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1542\/peds.103.2.527"},{"key":"p_58","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/adc.72.4.294"},{"key":"p_59","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/S0950268898008838"}],"container-title":["American Journal of Public Health"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/ajph.aphapublications.org\/doi\/pdf\/10.2105\/AJPH.90.10.1555","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,4]],"date-time":"2024-03-04T00:07:21Z","timestamp":1709510841000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/ajph.aphapublications.org\/doi\/full\/10.2105\/AJPH.90.10.1555"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2000,10,1]]},"references-count":58,"journal-issue":{"issue":"10","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2000,10,1]]}},"alternative-id":["10.2105\/AJPH.90.10.1555"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2105\/ajph.90.10.1555","relation":{},"ISSN":["0090-0036","1541-0048"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0090-0036","type":"print"},{"value":"1541-0048","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2000,10,1]]}}}