Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 virus antibodies and sociodemographic features of pregnant women in Mogadishu, Somalia: a cross-sectional survey study

ObjectiveRecent investigations have revealed that COVID-19 during pregnancy substantially increases the risk of harmful outcomes for mothers and neonates, including preterm death and stillbirth as well as severe maternal morbidity and mortality. Hence, the urgent need to understand the prevalence ra...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMJ open 2022-06, Vol.12 (6), p.e059617-e059617
Main Authors: Sh. Nur, Maryan Abdullahi, Dahie, Hassan Abdullahi, Hassan, Nima Abdi, Garba, Bashiru, Adam, Mohamed Husein Adam, Mohamoud, Jamal Hassan, Dirie, Najib Isse
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antibodies
Child
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
COVID-19 - epidemiology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Disease transmission
Female
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Infectious Diseases
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - diagnosis
Pregnant Women
public health
SARS-CoV-2
Seroepidemiologic Studies
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Sociodemographics
Somalia - epidemiology
Surveys and Questionnaires
Womens health
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Summary:ObjectiveRecent investigations have revealed that COVID-19 during pregnancy substantially increases the risk of harmful outcomes for mothers and neonates, including preterm death and stillbirth as well as severe maternal morbidity and mortality. Hence, the urgent need to understand the prevalence rate and level of awareness about COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 virus infection) and the practice of preventive measures against the disease among pregnant women in Somalia. This study aims to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 among pregnant women seeking antenatal care in the Benadir region (Mogadishu) of Somalia and to assess their knowledge and preventive practices towards COVID-19.SettingA hospital-based cross-sectional study involving two major referral maternity hospitals in Mogadishu, Somalia.ParticipantsPregnant women seeking antenatal services were included in our study.MethodsA total of 477 blood samples were collected from pregnant women attending the two referral hospitals in Mogadishu and screened for COVID-19. The participants were subjected to questionnaire interviews where their detailed history and practice of prevention against COVID-19 were evaluated.ResultsThe results showed that 175 (36.7%) were positive while 302 (63.3%) samples were negative for SARS-CoV-2 virus antibodies. Also, out of the 141 pregnant women who had two children or less, 19.4% were positive for IgG/IgM antibodies. Participants who had close contact with patients with COVID-19 were significantly associated for testing positive with a p value 0.0001. Students, teachers, employed people and individuals reported COVID-19 like symptoms were all associated with COVID-19 seropositivity outcomes.ConclusionPregnant women and those with commorbidies should be given special preventive care and health education about COVID-19 transmission.
ISSN:2044-6055
2044-6055
DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-059617