Awareness and knowledge of cytomegalovirus infection among pregnant women in French-speaking Switzerland
Abstract Background In Switzerland, cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common congenital infection, affecting more than 400 newborns per year. It is also the leading non-genetic cause of neurosensory impairment in children. The aims of this study were to assess the awareness, general knowledge and kn...
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BMC
2025-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07537-9 |
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| author | Dima Hussami Pauline Sartori Begoña Martinez de Tejada Alexandre Farin Wawrzyniec Rieder Sylvie Rouiller Romaine Robyr Anne-Claude Muller Brochut Gaston Grant Nordine Ben Ali Béatrice Eggel Maeva Pretalli Romina Capoccia Brugger Thomas Vial Federica Capanna Jonathan Baert Hélène Legardeur David Baud Léo Pomar |
| author_facet | Dima Hussami Pauline Sartori Begoña Martinez de Tejada Alexandre Farin Wawrzyniec Rieder Sylvie Rouiller Romaine Robyr Anne-Claude Muller Brochut Gaston Grant Nordine Ben Ali Béatrice Eggel Maeva Pretalli Romina Capoccia Brugger Thomas Vial Federica Capanna Jonathan Baert Hélène Legardeur David Baud Léo Pomar |
| author_sort | Dima Hussami |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background In Switzerland, cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common congenital infection, affecting more than 400 newborns per year. It is also the leading non-genetic cause of neurosensory impairment in children. The aims of this study were to assess the awareness, general knowledge and knowledge of hygiene measures related to CMV among pregnant women in French-speaking Switzerland, as well as identify baseline characteristics potentially associated with a better knowledge of CMV. Methods A regional cross-sectionnal study carried out in French-speaking Switzerland between May and December 2022, using a 36-item questionnaire available through a QR code. Results The majority of pregnant women surveyed, 61.6% (514/834), had already heard about CMV. Half the participants (50.4%, 375/743) knew how to protect themselves against this infection. Only 7.2% (60/834) were aware of all the consequences of congenital CMV infection in newborns, and only 1.2% (10/834) knew all the general facts about this virus (transmission, screening, treatment, fetal and maternal risks). An education above secondary level and having a high-risk profession (daycare of healthcare providers) appeared to be factors independently associated with greater awareness and knowledge of CMV, and of the hygiene measures to protect against it. Having been followed by a midwife (only or in addition to an obstetrician) was also associated with a greater knowledge of the virus, and age over 30 and being multiparous were also factors independently associated with a better knowledge of hygiene measures to adopt against CMV. Conclusion Awareness of CMV among pregnant women appears to have improved since a previous study conducted in Geneva in 2015. While knowledge of preventive measures among participants was insufficient to ensure comprehensive protection against CMV infection, it represents a significant improvement compared to previous studies. Further efforts are needed to enhance this knowledge to maximize its potential impact on prevention behaviors. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-26e93ff74f21422992929ddbf6f25e8a |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1471-2393 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
| spelling | doaj-art-26e93ff74f21422992929ddbf6f25e8a2025-08-20T03:10:06ZengBMCBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1471-23932025-04-0125111410.1186/s12884-025-07537-9Awareness and knowledge of cytomegalovirus infection among pregnant women in French-speaking SwitzerlandDima Hussami0Pauline Sartori1Begoña Martinez de Tejada2Alexandre Farin3Wawrzyniec Rieder4Sylvie Rouiller5Romaine Robyr6Anne-Claude Muller Brochut7Gaston Grant8Nordine Ben Ali9Béatrice Eggel10Maeva PretalliRomina Capoccia Brugger11Thomas Vial12Federica Capanna13Jonathan Baert14Hélène Legardeur15David Baud16Léo Pomar17Department Woman-Mother-Child, Lausanne University Hospital and University of LausanneDepartment Woman-Mother-Child, Lausanne University Hospital and University of LausanneObstetrics Division, Department of Pediatrics, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospitals of GenevaObstetrics Unit, Hospital Riviera-ChablaisDepartment Woman-Mother-Child, Lausanne University Hospital and University of LausanneService of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ensemble Hospitalier de la CôteEchofemmeGynechoDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Cantonal HospitalDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Cantonal HospitalDepartment Woman-Mother-Child, Lausanne University Hospital and University of LausanneDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Réseau Hospitalier NeuchâteloisDepartment Women Mother Child, Hôpital intercantonal de la BroyeGynOUSGynOUSDepartment Woman-Mother-Child, Lausanne University Hospital and University of LausanneDepartment Woman-Mother-Child, Lausanne University Hospital and University of LausanneDepartment Woman-Mother-Child, Lausanne University Hospital and University of LausanneAbstract Background In Switzerland, cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common congenital infection, affecting more than 400 newborns per year. It is also the leading non-genetic cause of neurosensory impairment in children. The aims of this study were to assess the awareness, general knowledge and knowledge of hygiene measures related to CMV among pregnant women in French-speaking Switzerland, as well as identify baseline characteristics potentially associated with a better knowledge of CMV. Methods A regional cross-sectionnal study carried out in French-speaking Switzerland between May and December 2022, using a 36-item questionnaire available through a QR code. Results The majority of pregnant women surveyed, 61.6% (514/834), had already heard about CMV. Half the participants (50.4%, 375/743) knew how to protect themselves against this infection. Only 7.2% (60/834) were aware of all the consequences of congenital CMV infection in newborns, and only 1.2% (10/834) knew all the general facts about this virus (transmission, screening, treatment, fetal and maternal risks). An education above secondary level and having a high-risk profession (daycare of healthcare providers) appeared to be factors independently associated with greater awareness and knowledge of CMV, and of the hygiene measures to protect against it. Having been followed by a midwife (only or in addition to an obstetrician) was also associated with a greater knowledge of the virus, and age over 30 and being multiparous were also factors independently associated with a better knowledge of hygiene measures to adopt against CMV. Conclusion Awareness of CMV among pregnant women appears to have improved since a previous study conducted in Geneva in 2015. While knowledge of preventive measures among participants was insufficient to ensure comprehensive protection against CMV infection, it represents a significant improvement compared to previous studies. Further efforts are needed to enhance this knowledge to maximize its potential impact on prevention behaviors.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07537-9CytomegalovirusCongenital CMVPregnancyHealthcareKnowledgeAwareness |
| spellingShingle | Dima Hussami Pauline Sartori Begoña Martinez de Tejada Alexandre Farin Wawrzyniec Rieder Sylvie Rouiller Romaine Robyr Anne-Claude Muller Brochut Gaston Grant Nordine Ben Ali Béatrice Eggel Maeva Pretalli Romina Capoccia Brugger Thomas Vial Federica Capanna Jonathan Baert Hélène Legardeur David Baud Léo Pomar Awareness and knowledge of cytomegalovirus infection among pregnant women in French-speaking Switzerland BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Cytomegalovirus Congenital CMV Pregnancy Healthcare Knowledge Awareness |
| title | Awareness and knowledge of cytomegalovirus infection among pregnant women in French-speaking Switzerland |
| title_full | Awareness and knowledge of cytomegalovirus infection among pregnant women in French-speaking Switzerland |
| title_fullStr | Awareness and knowledge of cytomegalovirus infection among pregnant women in French-speaking Switzerland |
| title_full_unstemmed | Awareness and knowledge of cytomegalovirus infection among pregnant women in French-speaking Switzerland |
| title_short | Awareness and knowledge of cytomegalovirus infection among pregnant women in French-speaking Switzerland |
| title_sort | awareness and knowledge of cytomegalovirus infection among pregnant women in french speaking switzerland |
| topic | Cytomegalovirus Congenital CMV Pregnancy Healthcare Knowledge Awareness |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07537-9 |
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