The Japanese Association of School Health

Research Paper

ISSN ONLINE : 1880-2400

[School Health Vol.9, 23-32, 2013]

Seroprevalence of Measles and Rubella Antibodies and the Effects of Health Education in High School Students Evaluated Using Antibody Titer Measurements

Yukiko Toshima*,** and Junko Nakajima-Shimada**

  • *Gunma University of Health and Welfare
  • 787-2 Fujioka. Fujioka-city, Gunma 375-0025 Japan
  • **Graduate School of Health Sciences, Gunma University
  • 3-39-22 Showa, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8514 Japan
  • jshimada@health.gunma-u.ac.jp

[Received October 22, 2012 ; Accepted May 19, 2013]

Keywords:
Seroprevalence, measles and rubella antibodies, health education, effects of education, high school students

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Abstracts

The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare has set a goal of zero cases of measles
by 2012 and has adopted initiatives towards its elimination. However, it remains necessary
to improve the understanding of immunization by Japanese people. This study assessed the
seroprevalence of measles and rubella antibodies in high school students and analyzed the
effects of health education related to infection and immunity. In 2008 and 2010, 1,155 students
attending S high school in G prefecture, Japan, attended a health education class titled,
“Basics about infection and the immune system”. Measles and/or rubella antibody titers were
measured in 563 consenting students. An identical survey of five questions was administered
before and after the class and the changes in knowledge were assessed in all 1,155 students.
In this study, the seroprevalence of measles and rubella antibodies was 83.5% and 80.4%,
respectively. In an analysis of the responses to the survey administered to 1,155 students
before and after attending the health education class, the mean total score increased from 3.38
points to 4.29 points for the five questions (perfect score = 5 points) (p<0.0001). Mean scores
were then calculated for students whose antibody titers were not measured, students whose
antibody titers were measured, and a control group. The mean score increased to 4.58 points
after the class in the students whose antibody titers were measured; however, the degree of
increase was smaller in the students whose antibody titers were not measured (4.10 points)
and the control group (3.88 points).
The results of this study suggest that the seroprevalence in high school students is insufficient
to eliminate measles and rubella, and the health education is effective for improving
understanding about infection and immunity.

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