Measles virus haemagglutination-inhibition antibodies among pregnant and non-pregnant women in the vaccine era in Harare, Zimbabwe

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of measles virus haemagglutination-inhibitive antibodies among pregnant and non-pregnant women born before 1963 (pre-vaccine era) and those born after 1963 (vaccine era) in Harare. Design: Prospective study of serum samples collected from pregnant and non-pregnant women born during the pre-vaccine era and vaccine era in Harare. Setting: A laboratory based study at the Virology Laboratory, Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Zimbabwe using serum samples of women from different communities in Harare. Subjects: 546 pregnant and non-pregnant women. Main outcome measures: Age, pregnant or not pregnant and the use of measles virus haemagglutination-inhibition antibody tests to determine prevalence rates or levels of antibodies to the measles virus.