Premium
Risk factors for C hagas disease among pregnant women in E l S alvador
Author(s) -
Sasagawa Emi,
Aiga Hirotsugu,
Corado Edith Y.,
Cuyuch Blanca L.,
Hernández Marta A.,
Guevara Ana V.,
Romero José E.,
Ramos Hector M.,
Cedillos Rafael A.,
Misago Chizuru,
Kita Kiyoshi
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1111/tmi.12440
Subject(s) - medicine
Objectives To determine the seroprevalence of C hagas disease among pregnant women and estimate the risk factors for C hagas disease during pregnancies. Methods Community‐based serological tests on T rypanosoma cruzi and structured interviews on socio‐demographic and socio‐economic status were conducted with pregnant women registered at three health centres in S onsonate province, E l S alvador. Results Of 797 pregnant women participating in the study, 29 (3.6%) were infected with C hagas disease. None had clinical symptoms. The results of bivariate analyses showed the significant association between seropositivity and maternal age ≥35 years, anaemia, illiteracy, having no formal school education and having knowledge on C hagas disease ( P < 0.05). The results of multivariate analysis indicate that age ≥35 years and anaemia were significantly associated with being infected with C hagas disease among pregnant women ( OR = 3.541 and 5.197, respectively). Conclusion We recommend that the national C hagas disease control programme be better coordinated with the national maternal and child health programme to introduce blood screening for T . cruzi during antenatal visits. If financial constraint allows systematic blood screening to be only partially implemented, resources should be focused on pregnant women ≥35 years and women who have anaemia.