title: Medically-attended respiratory illnesses amongst pregnant women in Brisbane, Australia.
abstract: There are limited community-based data on the burden of influenza and influenza-like illnesses during pregnancy to inform disease surveillance and control. We aimed to determine the incidence of medically-attended respiratory illnesses (MARI) in pregnant women and the proportion of women who are tested for respiratory pathogens at these visits. We conducted a nested retrospective cohort study of a non-random sample of women aged 18 years or over who had a live birth in maternity units in Brisbane, Queensland, from March 2012 to October 2014. The primary outcomes were self-reported doctor visits for MARI and laboratory investigations for respiratory pathogens. Descriptive analyses were performed. Among 1,202 participants, 222 (18.5%, 95%CI 16.3%-20.7%) self-reported MARI during their pregnancy. Of those with an MARI, 20.3% (45/222) self-reported a laboratory test was performed. We were able to confirm with health service providers that 46.7% (21/45) of tests were undertaken, responses from providers were not received for the remainder. Whilst one in 5 women in this population reported a MARI in pregnancy, only 3.7% (45/1,202) reported a clinical specimen had been arranged at the consultation and the ability to validate that self-report was problematic. As the focus on maternal immunisation increases, ascertainment of the aetiological agent causing MARI in this population will be required and efficient and reliable methods for obtaining these data at the community level need to be established.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland.
authors.forename: Precious
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rufus Ashiedu
authors.affiliation: Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Casaurina, Northern Territory.
authors.forename: Ross M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.affiliation: Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland.
authors.forename: Stephen B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McHugh
authors.affiliation: Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland.
authors.forename: Sallyanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: LeGros-Wilson
authors.affiliation: Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zenchyson
authors.affiliation: Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.affiliation: Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland.
authors.forename: Clementine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shevell
authors.affiliation: Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland and Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland.
authors.forename: Kerry-Ann F
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: O'Grady
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies