Female Gender: A Risk Factor for Acquiring Rift Valley Fever Virus Infection in Jazan Region, Southwestern Saudi Arabia

Objective: To determine whether gender is a significant risk factor of acquiring Rift Valley fever (RVFV) infection in Jazan Region during the outbreak of 2000-2001. Design: A total sample of 1375 (1095 males and 280 females) apparently healthy people from randomly selected villages in Jazan Region were enrolled in this study. A questionnaire was designed by the researcher and verbal consents were obtained from participants. Separated sera from collected blood samples were tested by sensitive enzyme immunoassays (ELISAs) to detect RVFV-specific IgM and IgG antibodies. Results: The peculiar finding in this study was a significantly higher risk among females for acquiring RVFV infection compared with males (aOR=2.195, 95 CI: 1.163-4.141). Other significant risk factors were nationality, housing conditions, having animals within living premises, history of slaughtering animals, contact with aborted animals and transporting aborted animals. Conclusions: Females gender can be a significant risk factor for acquiring RVFV infection due to certain socio-economical habitsand behaviors that render women at an increased exposure to infected animals and their products.