Maternal cytomegalovirus infection prevention: the role of Dutch primary care midwives.
OBJECTIVE
to assess the knowledge of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection among Dutch primary care midwives, and clinical approaches to informing women about CMV.


METHODS
cross-sectional study, using self-administered questionnaires.


METHODS
330 Dutch primary care midwives.


METHODS
primary midwifery care practices across the Netherlands.


RESULTS
Midwives' knowledge of CMV transmission routes and maternal symptoms, and clinical practice behaviours regarding CMV, the information typically provided or reasons for not informing pregnant women about CMV.


RESULTS
the overall median knowledge score was 8.0 out of a maximum possible score of 13.0. Of all participants, 10.6% reported always informing pregnant women about CMV infection prevention and 41.0% reported never informing pregnant women. The main reason indicated for not informing pregnant women was lack of knowledge about preventive methods (45.7%).


CONCLUSIONS
Dutch primary care midwives have limited knowledge of CMV infection. Improvement in providing education to pregnant women about strategies to prevent CMV is necessary.
Department of Midwifery Science, AVAG and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, P.O. Box 7057 (D4.40), 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: pereboom_monique@hotmail.com.
Monique T R
MT
Pereboom
Department of Midwifery Science, AVAG and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, P.O. Box 7057 (D4.40), 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Medical Statistics & BioInformatics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Judith
J
Manniën
Department of Midwifery Science, AVAG and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, P.O. Box 7057 (D4.40), 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Evelien R
ER
Spelten
Department of Midwifery Science, AVAG and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, P.O. Box 7057 (D4.40), 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
Eileen K
EK
Hutton
Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL), Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine/EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
François G
FG
Schellevis
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008880:Midwifery / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D009426:Netherlands; D024802:Nurse's Role; D018743:Perinatal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Cytomegalovirus; Prevention; Primary care midwives