Tetanus antibodies at booking in a Nigerian obstetric population

Abstract

Eighty-four consenting ante-natal patients at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, were examined for tetanus antibodies at booking. Only 28.6% had detectable scrum antibodies. Although 73.8% were immunized within three years prior to investigation, only 37.1% had measurable antibodies. It was found that the longer the interval from previous immunization, the fewer the number with detectable antibodies and the lower the litres. Possible explanations for these findings are discussed and recommendations made.