Pregnant Women and Infants Infected with SARS-COV-2: A Brief Overview

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is now a global health concern and a wide range of people are at risk. Pregnant women are considered high-risk groups due to hormonal changes and weakness in the immune system. In the present study, the transmission of COVID-19 from mother to fetus and infection of children under the age of 10 with this virus were discussed. This study tries to investigate whether the coronavirus can be transmitted from a pregnant mother to her fetus and whether the virus can be transmitted to the baby through breast milk. According to researchers, children under the age of 10 do not get the disease; however, the first case of a baby with coronavirus was reported in Mashhad, Iran, based on the world’s up-to-date studies and the perceptions of medical experts.

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Level of Practice of Safety Precautions against COVID 19 among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal clinics in Central Hospital Benin, Benin City in Nigeria

Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management ◽

10.4314/jasem.v24i11.12 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 24 (11) ◽

pp. 1925-1931

Author(s):

ES Omozuwa ◽

NE Uwaibi ◽

JO Erhabor

Keyword(s):

Health Education ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Good Practice ◽

Antenatal Clinic ◽

Health Concern ◽

Central Hospital ◽

Benin City ◽

First Case ◽

Safety Precaution ◽

Antenatal Clinics

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has assumed a global health concern since the first case was recorded in Wuhan community China in December 2019. The objective of this paper is to report the level of practice of safety precautions against COVID 19 among pregnant women attending Antenatal Clinics in Central Hospital Benin, Benin City in Nigeria. A self- administered questionnaire on the level of practice of safety precautions against covid19 infection was administered to a total of 420 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in central Hospital Benin City for Data collection. The results showed that two hundred and four (48.6%) of the respondents reported that they have recently avoided crowded places. Three hundred and seventy two (88.6%) reported recently wearing mask whenever they left home. Three hundred and twenty four (77.1%) of the respondents had good practice of safety precautions against COVID19. The study showed a good practice of safety precautions against COVID19 and this was influenced by the women’s level of education, occupation and knowledge of COVID-19. However, there is still the need to improve the knowledge of the women attending antenatal clinic regarding COVID-19 through health education seminars. Also up scaling the practice of safety precautions could be done through such health education seminars. Keywords: Pregnant women, Practice, Safety precaution, covid-19

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Comparação da Aplicação da EER Hema-Obs a 250 Gestações da Consulta de Hematologia-Obstetrícia do Centro Hospitalar São João, Portugal Versus EER Galit Sarig a 90 Gestações no Rambam Health Care Campus, Israel

Acta Médica Portuguesa ◽

10.20344/amp.5200 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 189

Author(s):

Ana Salselas ◽

Inês Pestana ◽

Francisco Bischoff ◽

Mariana Guimarães ◽

Joaquim Aguiar Andrade

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Risk Stratification ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Receiver Operating Characteristic ◽

Operating Characteristic ◽

Characteristic Curve ◽

Risk Groups ◽

Low Risk ◽

Very High ◽

Receiver Operating

Introduction: Pregnant women with thromboembolic diseases, previous thrombotic episodes or thrombophilia family history were supervised in a multidisciplinary Obstetrics/ Hematology consultation in Centro Hospitalar São João EPE, Porto, Portugal. For the evaluation and medication of these women, a risk stratification scale was used. Purposes: The aim of this study was to validate a Risk Stratification Scale and thromboprophylaxis protocol by means of comparing it with a similar scale, developed and published by Sarig. Material and Methods: We have compared: The distribution, by risk groups, obtained through the application of the two scales on pregnant women followed at Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal, consultation; the sensibility and specificity for each one of the scales (DeLong scale, applied to Receiver Operating Characteristic) curves; the outcomes in pregnancies followed in Hospital São João, Porto, Portugal Results: According to our Hema-Obs risk stratification scale, 29% were allocated to low-risk, 47% to high-risk and 24% to very-high-risk groups. According to Galit Sarig risk stratification scale, 24% were considered low-risk, 53% moderate, 16% high-risk and 7% as very high-risk group. In our study we observed 9% of spontaneous abortions, in comparison with 18% in the Galit Sarig cohort. From the application of Receiver Operating Characteristic curve to both risk stratification scales, the results of the calculated areas were 58,8% to our Hema-Obs risk stratification scale and 38,7% to Galit Sarig risk stratification scale, with a Delong test significancie of p = 0.0006. Conclusions: We concluded that Hema-Obs risk stratification scale is an effective support for clinical monitoring of therapeutic strategies.

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A Seroprevalence Study for HBV in Pregnant Women in Greece: High Risk Migrant Groups and Opportunities for Intervention

Austin Journal of Infectious Diseases ◽

10.26420/austinjinfectdis.2021.1046 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Anagnostatou N ◽

◽

Hatzidaki E ◽

Galanakis E ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Health Planning ◽

Action Plan ◽

Perinatal Care ◽

Risk Groups ◽

Quality Health Care ◽

Roma Population ◽

Seroprevalence Data ◽

Migrant Groups

Background: Perinatal transmission of HBV leads to chronic infection in up to 90% of neonates. Focused prenatal screening and appropriate treatment of pregnant women and neonates is necessary for the elimination of hepatitis B, as was stated in the 2017 WHO Action Plan for HBV. Information on seroprevalence of HBV in Greece, especially in pregnant women, is scarce and rather outdated. Seroprevalence data specifically for high-risk groups, such as immigrants, is necessary for proper public health planning and elimination of vertical transmission and this study will struggle to fill the gap that exists in Greece. Methods: HBsAg status of pregnant women delivering during 2017 in Crete was studied. Seroprevalence was estimated for the whole population and each ethnic group separately. Results: The mean age of the participants was 30.38 (±6) years. Their origin was Greek (76.76 %), Albanian (10.18%), Bulgarian (3.79%), Roma population (2.44%), Russia and Former Republics of Russia (2.06%), Romanian (1.95%), Central Europe (0.70%) refugees from Syria, Morocco, Egypt (0.55%), and East Asian (0.43%). The HBsAg (+) seroprevalence was 1.5%. The seroprevalence of Greeks was 0.5%, while Albanians, Bulgarians, Romanians and Roma had 4.3%, 5.7%, 2.8%, and 11.1% respectively (p<0.001). Conclusions: Defining specific at-risk groups in each country is fundamental, since MTCT is the principal mode of transmission in high prevalence settings. Our study revealed high seroprevalence in certain migrant groups and Roma women. This information is essential for proper planning of perinatal care in Greece, especially taking into account that these underprivileged groups often lack quality health care.

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Prevalence of infection by HTLV-I/II among pregnant women and high-risk groups in the Peloponnese peninsula, Greece

International Journal of STD & AIDS ◽

10.1258/095646206778145541 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 17 (8) ◽

pp. 543-546 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Parthenopi M Tseliou ◽

Nicholas Spanakis ◽

Anna Spiliotakara ◽

Antonios Markogiannakis ◽

Nicholas J Legakis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Risk Groups

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Improving the Sexual Health of Young People (under 25) in High-Risk Populations: A Systematic Review of Behavioural and Psychosocial Interventions

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18179063 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (17) ◽

pp. 9063

Author(s):

Ellie Brown ◽

Samantha Lo Monaco ◽

Brian O’Donoghue ◽

Hayley Nolan ◽

Elizabeth Hughes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

North America ◽

Young People ◽

Sexual Health ◽

Condom Use ◽

Psychosocial Interventions ◽

Risk Groups ◽

Vulnerable Groups ◽

Health Concern ◽

Knowledge And Attitudes

Background: Ensuring young people experience good sexual health is a key public health concern, yet some vulnerable groups of young people remain at higher risk of poor sexual health. These individuals require additional support to achieve good sexual health but the best way to provide this remains needs to be better understood. Methods: We searched for randomised controlled trials of behavioural and psychosocial interventions aimed at promoting sexual health in high-risk young populations. Outcomes of interest were indicators of sexual health (e.g., condom use, attitudes to contraception, knowledge of risk). Participants were under 25 years old and in one of the following high-risk groups: alcohol and other drug use; ethnic minority; homeless; justice-involved; LGBTQI+; mental ill-health; or out-of-home care. Results: Twenty-eight papers from 26 trials met our inclusion criteria, with all but one conducted in North America. Condom use was the most frequently reported outcome measure along with knowledge and attitudes towards sexual health but considerable differences in measures used made comparisons across studies difficult. Change in knowledge and attitudes did not consistently result in long-term change in behaviours. Conclusions: There remains a dearth of research undertaken outside of North America across all high-risk groups of young people. Future interventions should address sexual health more broadly than just the absence of negative biological outcomes, with LGBTQI+, homeless and mental ill-health populations targeted for such work. An international consensus on outcome measures would support the research field going forward, making future meta-analyses possible.

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Assessment of hemostasis in physiological pregnancy. Algorithms of examination in high risk groups. Guidelines (PROJECT), 2nd edition

Тромбоз, гемостаз и реология ◽

10.25555/thr.2019.4.0903 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

А.П. Момот ◽

М.Г. Николаева ◽

Г.В. Сердюк ◽

А.Н. Мамаев ◽

В.В. Романов ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Risk Groups ◽

Thromboembolic Complications

Настоящие методические рекомендации представляют собой изложение алгоритмов исследования системы гемостаза у беременных при физиологическом течении беременности и в группах риска по развитию гестационных и тромбоэмболических осложнений и акушерских кровотечений. These guidelines are the summary of algorithms for the study of hemostasis in pregnant women during the physiological pregnancy and in risk groups for the development of gestational and thromboembolic complications and obstetric hemorrhages.

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Varicella Vaccine and Susceptible Pregnant Mothers

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.97.3.441 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 97 (3) ◽

pp. 441-441

Author(s):

BRIAN D. KAN ◽

MARK J. AULT ◽

JEFFREY S. GREENSPOON

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Infectious Diseases ◽

American Academy ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Close Association ◽

Varicella Vaccine ◽

Pregnant Mother ◽

Excellent Review ◽

American Academy Of Pediatrics ◽

Pregnant Mothers

Although the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases presented an excellent review on the use of varicella vaccine in children, we are concerned about their recommendation to give the vaccine to children of pregnant women. The Committee recommends, "A pregnant mother or other household member is not a contraindication for vaccination of the child." In contrast, the manufacturer gives the following precaution: "Vaccine recipients should avoid close association with susceptible high-risk individuals (eg, newborns, pregnant women, and immunocompromised persons."

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Neuroimmunology of stressful pregnancy

HEALTH OF WOMAN ◽

10.15574/hw.2020.151-152.58 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 58-62

Author(s):

S.I. Zhuk ◽

◽

O.D. Shchurevska ◽

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

High Risk ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Functional Activity ◽

Risk Groups ◽

Internally Displaced ◽

Pregnancy Anxiety ◽

Pregnancy And Childbirth ◽

Immunological Mechanisms ◽

Complicated Pregnancy

Nowadays, almost every woman is at high risk because of stress during pregnancy, but their nature, intensity, duration of exposure are different for each woman. Extremely high-risk groups are pregnant women living in conditions of military aggression, social and humanitarian crises. The period of reactive adaptation to stress in them is rapidly changing maladaptation. This is due to neuro-immunological mechanisms, which are further implemented in the complicated pregnancy and childbirth. The objective: is to establish the stressors effects on the function of the immune system of pregnant women and their possible role in the occurrence of complications of gestation. Materials and methods. To achieve this goal, we surveyed 78 pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy. They were divided into 2 groups: 1 group (main) – 42 pregnant women, displaced from Lugansk and Donetsk regions, 2 group – 36 pregnant women with physiological pregnancy. General clinical studies, psychological testing (Spielberger–Hanin scale) and immunological studies: population and subpopulation composition of blood lymphocytes using the method of indirect immunofluorescence using monoclonal antibodies CD3+, CD4+, CD4+, CD8+, CD8+ CD20 + and CD16 +, study of lymphocyte functional activity and determination of CIC were conducted. Results. Total lymphopenia and significant increase in the level of circulating immune complexes (CIC) were found in pregnant women of the 1 group (forcibly displaced). This indicates a state of marked suppression of immunity (lymphopenia), complicated pregnancy, susceptibility to infectious-inflammatory processes, severe course and prolonged convalescence. The number of lymphocytes was within the normative parameters in pregnant women of the second group. Activation of the number of T cells (CD4+, CD8+, CD16+), as well as their functional activity (RBTL) were found. Which points at the activation of the T-cells immunity type. Conclusions. The results of the study prove the immunosuppressive role of psychosocial factors in internally displaced women and the presence of stress-induced decompensation of the psychoneuroendocrine system in them. Keywords: psychoneuroimmunology, pregnancy, anxiety, women–forcibly displaced, stress.

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Analysis of mercury concentration in former mine areas in Slovakia

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa166.123 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

T Kimáková ◽

J Poráčová

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Mercury Level ◽

Absorption Spectrometry ◽

Health Concern ◽

Ore Processing ◽

Wide Range ◽

Fish Samples ◽

Nursing Mothers ◽

Waste Incinerators

Abstract Background Mercury is ubiquitous in the biosphere, occurring in the air, water, land, and soil, as well as in the living organisms. Mercury release in the environment is mainly the result of human activity, particularly from coal-fired power stations, waste incinerators and as a result of mining for mercury and other metals, which have led to wide spread global mercury pollution. The excessive exposure to mercury is a public health concern since it is associated with a wide range of adverse health effects including damage to the central nervous system and the kidneys. Mercury poses a threat to the development of the child in utero and early in life. We answer the question whether the monitoring of mercury is important even though the ore processing factories ended their production. Methods A total of 5,579 samples of foodstuffs from food retails in Slovakia and 24 species of plants within 100 meters to the former ore processing factory in Eastern Slovakia have been collected over the last two decades. The samples were selected randomly and the material was homogenized. Atomic absorption spectrometry standard solutions for mercury were used at a wavelength of 254 nm. Results The maximum mercury level set by the European Commission Regulation was exceeded in 314 samples. 50.52% of the total 384 fish samples from food retails in Slovakia were above the limit. The concentrations of mercury in the plants and in the soils taken to a depth of 0.25 m exceeded the maximum levels more than 6-times and 50-times, respectively. Conclusions The acceptance of mercurýs environmental impacts require several decades of research and public health activities. The monitoring of mercury worldwide is important, since we found that the end of ore processing does not solve the issue of contamination. We recommend developing procedures and legislation for the consumption of selected foods from the areas of ore processing companies for children, adolescents, pregnant women and nursing mothers. Key messages The systematic monitoring of mercury is still very important, since we found that the end of ore processing does not solve the issue of contamination in the former ore processing areas. It is not recommend the consumption of selected foods and plants from the former ore processing areas for selected groups of the population – children, pregnant women and nursing mothers.

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Impact of COVID-19 infection on pregnant women: literature review

International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health ◽

10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20210035 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 927

Author(s):

Ghadah Mohammed Alasbi ◽

Afaf Mohammad Saad ◽

Nada Jamal Abdulqader ◽

Sulaiman Hemdi Laimooniah ◽

Fatimah Falah Aldajani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Risk Groups ◽

Management Plan ◽

Mortality And Morbidity ◽

Best Management ◽

Pregnant Females ◽

Virulent Strains ◽

Women Literature ◽

Severe Infections

SARS-CoV-2 infection in high-risk groups is associated with high mortality and morbidity. Pregnant females are considered one of these cases. More studies are needed to understand how the virus affects the complication rate in these cases and what is the best management plan. Hence, this study was conducted to stand on the real incidence and complications of COVID-19 in pregnancy. Databases like PubMed, Medline, Web of science, Embase, Google scholar, and Scopus were searched using the following search terms “severe acute respiratory syndrome of coronavirus-2” or “SARS-CoV-2” or “COVID-19” or “coronavirus” and “pregnant” or “neonate” or “pregnancy” transplacental transmission” or “placental transmission” or “vertical transmission” or intrauterine or perinatal. Pregnant women are not considered high-risk groups for COVID-19 infections as it was found that the risk of complication in COVID-19 patients was similar to non-infected patients. However, virulent strains of the virus had caused severe infections and complications. The study lacked a clear plan for the management of the virus in pregnant females.

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