title: Congenital cytomegalovirus: implications for maternal-child nursing.
abstract: Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a leading infectious cause of neurodevelopmental disorders in children. Despite its prevalence and devastating consequences, there is limited public and professional awareness about it. This practice-focused article presents two stories describing the family experience of congenital CMV; a literature review describing incidence and epidemiology of congenital CMV; sequelae including infection; the extent of public awareness about congenital CMV; and risk reduction approaches. Implications for maternal-child nurses, whose work uniquely situates them with populations of childbearing women, are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Marion Rita Alex is an Associate Professor, School of Nursing, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada B2G 2W5. She can be reached via e-mail at malex@stfx.ca.
authors.forename: Marion Rita
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Alex
mesh_terms: D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D003587:Cytomegalovirus; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000151:congenital*; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016389:Maternal-Child Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D018743:Perinatal Care / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology