Awareness of and knowledge about mother‐to‐child infections in Japanese pregnant women

Abstract

To reduce the incidence of infants with congenital infections, women should be aware of and know prevention measures against maternal infection with mother-to-child infections during pregnancy. Our objective was to assess the awareness of and knowledge about mother-to-child infections in Japanese pregnant women. A survey of 343 Japanese pregnant women was completed. Awareness of 13 pathogens capable of mother-to-child transmission was surveyed. Knowledge about the transmission route, the most susceptible time of infection that may cause severe fetal disease during pregnancy, and methods to prevent maternal infection were investigated for four major pathogens (cytomegalovirus, rubella virus, Toxoplasma gondii, and parvovirus B19) and results were compared between these pathogens. The proportion of women aware of pathogens concerning TORCH syndrome was the following: rubella virus 76%, Treponema pallidum 69%, Toxoplasma gondii 58%, parvovirus B19 28%, herpes simplex virus 27%, and cytomegalovirus 18%. Only 8% knew how cytomegalovirus is transmitted, and only 12% knew how parvovirus B19 is transmitted; both were significantly lower than those who knew transmission routes for rubella virus or Toxoplasma gondii. The proportion of women who knew the most susceptible time for severe fetal infection by maternal acquisition of cytomegalovirus, Toxoplasma gondii, or parvovirus B19 was significantly lower than that for rubella virus. The vast majority of surveyed women were not aware of methods to prevent maternal infection with cytomegalovirus or parvovirus B19. In conclusion, current awareness of and knowledge about cytomegalovirus and parvovirus B19 infection are low in Japanese pregnant women.

Educational program about Rubella among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Women’s Health Hospital, Assiut University, Egypt

“…And recommend educational program and counseling to increase their awareness and decrease occurrence infection among them. [10] To prevent rubella should be reaching to vaccination coverage, so knowledge and awareness about rubella is important part to fulfill this gap and this can achieved through educational program about rubella for pregnant women. [11] 2.…”

State of knowledge concerrning congenital cmv infection among pregnant women and those who plan pregnancy

“…Aby zmniejszyć częstość występowania wrodzonej cytomegalii, zarówno kobiety w ciąży, jak i te planujące ciążę w przyszłości, muszą przede wszystkim być świadome występowania takiego niebezpieczeństwa i znać środki zapobiegawcze, które mogą ustrzec przed zakażeniem CMV podczas ciąży [41]. Biorąc pod uwagę ten niezaprzeczalny fakt, w wielu krajach przeprowadzone zostały badania ankietowe mające na celu poznanie stanu wiedzy na temat zakażenia wrodzonego CMV.…”

“…Wirus cytomegalii był jednym z 13 patogenów włączonych do badań ankietowych przeprowadzonych w jednym z japoń-skich szpitali uniwersyteckich w grupie 343 kobiet ciężarnych powyżej 18. roku życia (19-45 lat; średnia wieku 34 lata) [41]. Celem badań była ocena świadomości i wiedzy kobiet ciężarnych na temat zakażeń przenoszonych drogą wertykalną z matki na płód.…”

Cytomegalovirus infection in day care centres: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of prevalence of infection in children

“…Staff at DCCs who are repeatedly exposed to CMV, many of whom are women of childbearing age, are also at risk of CMV infection . Despite this risk, a large proportion (61% to 87.5%) of pregnant women and providers of their clinical care are unaware and uninformed about congenital CMV infection …”

“…16,17 Despite this risk, a large proportion (61% to 87.5%) of pregnant women and providers of their clinical care are unaware and uninformed about congenital CMV infection. [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] Given that transmission to pregnant women from infected children, including those in childcare, is a significant risk factor for CMV infection during pregnancy, it is essential to quantify this risk in order to (1) aid discussions with pregnant women about risk; (2) better define prognosis in at-risk women; (3) improve discussion with, and counselling of, pregnant women regarding prevention; and (4) inform policy discussions regarding prevention methods for congenital CMV. We systematically reviewed the prevalence of CMV infection in children attending DCCs and analysed the factors contributing to CMV infection among these children.…”