The research of the tetanus seropositivity levels in registered family physicians in Ankara province, Turkey, 2017

抄録

The aim of this research is to determine the seropositivity levels of tetanus vaccine according to age groups in Ankara province, to identify possible factors that could affect the immune status, and to make recommendations especially in people aged 50 years and older. This cross-sectional epidemiological study covers people over three years of age registered in the Family Medicine Information System. We received blood samples from 992 people and 968 of them were surveyed. Protective tetanus antibody levels were 80.5% in the age group of 3-5 years; 92.0% in the age group of 6-12 years; 94.3% in the age group of 13-20 years; 95.2% in the age group of 21-39 years; 84.4% in the age group of 40-49 years; 50 years and older were found to be 57.3%. Tetanus seropositivity decreased with age. It will be useful to increase the awareness of the importance of tetanus vaccine boosters for adults by giving trainings, to ensure booster vaccination against tetanus at intervals of 10 years and to consider obligatory tetanus vaccination if necessary for age group of 50 years and older.