ANTITETANUS TOXIN TITERS IN SERA OF THE WOMEN WHO GAVE BIRTHS IN 1985AND 1989 IN GIPUZKOA (BASQUE COUNTRY, SPAIN)

14.9% (208/1400) of the women who gave births in 1985 and 1989 in Gipu zkoa (Basque Country, Spain), was considered to have 'protective' leve ls (greater than or equal to 0.01 IU/ml) of tetanus antitoxin as measu red by the passive; haemagglutination test. Prevalence of protective a ntibodies was correlated to the years when women were born: 54.7% (64/ 117) of those born after 1965 were considered to have 'protective' lev els (greater than or equal to 0.01 IU/ml) of tetanus antitoxin in cont rast to those born before 1956 [only 6.2% (21/338)]. This is considere d to be due to the infant immunization campaign introduced in 1965 in the Basque Country. Thus, we conclude that the tetanus immunization ca mpaigns in the Basque Country adult population is urgent.