Awareness, knowledge and attitudes of lead maternity carers towards early-onset neonatal group B streptococcal disease.
OBJECTIVE
To determine awareness, knowledge and attitudes of lead maternity carers (LMCs) towards early-onset neonatal group B streptococcus (GBS) infection and its prevention.


METHODS
An anonymous, self-administered questionnaire was sent to the 155 practising LMCs in Wellington and Hutt Valley.


RESULTS
Completed questionnaires were returned by 84 (54%) LMCs (59 midwives). 66 (79%) believed perinatal GBS infections were important, 70 (85%) supported antenatal screening, while 68 (81%) were confident of determining risk factors for GBS infection and counselling women. However, less than one-third nominated major risk factors, none identified all five high-risk criteria and only 22 (26%) regularly discussed GBS with clients. When asked to name high-risk criteria, midwives were more likely than doctors to disclose they had incomplete knowledge or not to answer this item (53% vs 20%; p < 0.006). Of the 48 (57%) LMCs routinely employing GBS prevention strategies, 34 (71%) used culture-based screening, relying mainly upon high-vaginal swabs from the first-trimester.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite widespread awareness of perinatal GBS disease, only 57% of surveyed LMCs practised prevention strategies and none completely followed published recommendations. A New Zealand consensus or improved dissemination of local guidelines is required to achieve further reductions in neonatal GBS sepsis.
Gosling
Isobelle
I
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Stone
Peter
P
Grimwood
Keith
K
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005194:Family Practice / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008880:Midwifery / Q000592:standards; D009520:New Zealand; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000592:standards; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000592:standards*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000151:congenital* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires