Seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus antibodies among antenatal clinic attendees in Abakaliki, Nigeria

Ogbonna Nlia Anuma, Odidika Ugochukwu Joannes Umeora

African Journal of Medical and Health Sciences 2016 15(1):24-29

Context: Cytomegalovirus infection is potentially neurotoxic to the fetus when it occurs during pregnancy. The prevalence is not known within our population. Aims: To determine the seroprevalence of Cytomegalovirus antibodies in pregnant Nigerian women at a tertiary health facility in Southeast Nigeria. Methods: This was a laboratory-based cross sectional descriptive study. Pregnant women who consented to the study were recruited from the antenatal clinics of the Teaching Hospital. Blood samples were collected from them and analysed using ELISA techniques. The relationships between positive CMV antibodies and socio-demographic variables were analysed using Chi square test and linear regression analysis. Results: Two hundred and four (204) serum samples were analysed. CMV seroprevalence was 96.08%. Two hundred and one (98.5%) participants were not aware of CMV infection. Lower socioeconomic class was associated with increased seroprevalence of Cytomegalovirus (P=0.004). Multiparous women were more likely to acquire CMV infection than primigravide women (P=0.009). There was a strong association between maternal place of residence and CMV seropositivity (P=0.023). The association between increasing maternal age and CMV seropositivity did not achieve statistical significance (P=0.246). Conclusion: Cytomegalovirus seroprevalence is high among participants and awareness of this disease is low. There is need to create further awareness of this disease.

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