Knowledge of Zika Virus Transmission and Its Prevention among High-Risk Pregnant Women in Brazil
Recent outbreaks of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection highlight the urgent need to evaluate the efficacy of current public health measures to educate susceptible groups about how to prevent infection, modes of viral transmission, and consequences of infection. We performed a cross-sectional study in the c...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-02-01
|
| Series: | Viruses |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/2/242 |
| _version_ | 1797415397571428352 |
|---|---|
| author | Lucas C. Pires Luiza R. Dantas Steven S. Witkin Ana Paula A. P. Bertozzi Rita de Cássia A. B. Dezena Maria M. D. Rodrigues Rosa Estela Gazeta Saulo D. Passos |
| author_facet | Lucas C. Pires Luiza R. Dantas Steven S. Witkin Ana Paula A. P. Bertozzi Rita de Cássia A. B. Dezena Maria M. D. Rodrigues Rosa Estela Gazeta Saulo D. Passos |
| author_sort | Lucas C. Pires |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Recent outbreaks of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection highlight the urgent need to evaluate the efficacy of current public health measures to educate susceptible groups about how to prevent infection, modes of viral transmission, and consequences of infection. We performed a cross-sectional study in the city of Jundiaí, São-Paulo, from March 2016 to August 2017. In 315 high-risk pregnant women we evaluated the rate of ZIKV infection, knowledge of pathways of ZIKV transmission, and the use of protective measures. Data were analyzed and correlated with sociodemographic variables. The rate of ZIKV infection was 10.8%. ZIKV transmission by mosquitoes was the best-known means of virus acquisition, while transmission of ZIKV by sexual intercourse as well as mother–fetus transmission was known by less than half of the women. The use of insect repellent, reported by 53% of participants, was correlated with higher education and personal directives from health professionals. Condom use was reported by 19.5% of subjects. Improved strategies to increase awareness of ZIKV infection and its consequences, designed to appeal to specific, targeted populations, are clearly necessary to more accurately prevent the spread of this infection and diminish adverse consequences in the pregnant population. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:48:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4d51767b6f9545e991f403bfc95935d6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4915 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:48:03Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Viruses |
| spelling | doaj.art-4d51767b6f9545e991f403bfc95935d62023-12-03T12:19:42ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152021-02-0113224210.3390/v13020242Knowledge of Zika Virus Transmission and Its Prevention among High-Risk Pregnant Women in BrazilLucas C. Pires0Luiza R. Dantas1Steven S. Witkin2Ana Paula A. P. Bertozzi3Rita de Cássia A. B. Dezena4Maria M. D. Rodrigues5Rosa Estela Gazeta6Saulo D. Passos7Faculty of Medicine, Jundiaí School of Medicine, Jundiaí, São Paulo 13202-550, BrazilFaculty of Medicine, Jundiaí School of Medicine, Jundiaí, São Paulo 13202-550, BrazilDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USADepartment of Pediatrics, Jundiaí School of Medicine, Jundiaí, São Paulo 13207-450, BrazilDepartment of Pediatrics, Jundiaí School of Medicine, Jundiaí, São Paulo 13207-450, BrazilDepartment of Pediatrics, Jundiaí School of Medicine, Jundiaí, São Paulo 13207-450, BrazilDepartment of Pediatrics, Jundiaí School of Medicine, Jundiaí, São Paulo 13207-450, BrazilDepartment of Pediatrics, Jundiaí School of Medicine, Jundiaí, São Paulo 13207-450, BrazilRecent outbreaks of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection highlight the urgent need to evaluate the efficacy of current public health measures to educate susceptible groups about how to prevent infection, modes of viral transmission, and consequences of infection. We performed a cross-sectional study in the city of Jundiaí, São-Paulo, from March 2016 to August 2017. In 315 high-risk pregnant women we evaluated the rate of ZIKV infection, knowledge of pathways of ZIKV transmission, and the use of protective measures. Data were analyzed and correlated with sociodemographic variables. The rate of ZIKV infection was 10.8%. ZIKV transmission by mosquitoes was the best-known means of virus acquisition, while transmission of ZIKV by sexual intercourse as well as mother–fetus transmission was known by less than half of the women. The use of insect repellent, reported by 53% of participants, was correlated with higher education and personal directives from health professionals. Condom use was reported by 19.5% of subjects. Improved strategies to increase awareness of ZIKV infection and its consequences, designed to appeal to specific, targeted populations, are clearly necessary to more accurately prevent the spread of this infection and diminish adverse consequences in the pregnant population.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/2/242Zika viruspregnancymaternal healthinfant healthdisease preventionpublic health |
| spellingShingle | Lucas C. Pires Luiza R. Dantas Steven S. Witkin Ana Paula A. P. Bertozzi Rita de Cássia A. B. Dezena Maria M. D. Rodrigues Rosa Estela Gazeta Saulo D. Passos Knowledge of Zika Virus Transmission and Its Prevention among High-Risk Pregnant Women in Brazil Viruses Zika virus pregnancy maternal health infant health disease prevention public health |
| title | Knowledge of Zika Virus Transmission and Its Prevention among High-Risk Pregnant Women in Brazil |
| title_full | Knowledge of Zika Virus Transmission and Its Prevention among High-Risk Pregnant Women in Brazil |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge of Zika Virus Transmission and Its Prevention among High-Risk Pregnant Women in Brazil |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge of Zika Virus Transmission and Its Prevention among High-Risk Pregnant Women in Brazil |
| title_short | Knowledge of Zika Virus Transmission and Its Prevention among High-Risk Pregnant Women in Brazil |
| title_sort | knowledge of zika virus transmission and its prevention among high risk pregnant women in brazil |
| topic | Zika virus pregnancy maternal health infant health disease prevention public health |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/2/242 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lucascpires knowledgeofzikavirustransmissionanditspreventionamonghighriskpregnantwomeninbrazil AT luizardantas knowledgeofzikavirustransmissionanditspreventionamonghighriskpregnantwomeninbrazil AT stevenswitkin knowledgeofzikavirustransmissionanditspreventionamonghighriskpregnantwomeninbrazil AT anapaulaapbertozzi knowledgeofzikavirustransmissionanditspreventionamonghighriskpregnantwomeninbrazil AT ritadecassiaabdezena knowledgeofzikavirustransmissionanditspreventionamonghighriskpregnantwomeninbrazil AT mariamdrodrigues knowledgeofzikavirustransmissionanditspreventionamonghighriskpregnantwomeninbrazil AT rosaestelagazeta knowledgeofzikavirustransmissionanditspreventionamonghighriskpregnantwomeninbrazil AT saulodpassos knowledgeofzikavirustransmissionanditspreventionamonghighriskpregnantwomeninbrazil |