Seroprevalence of syphilis among pregnant females attending antenatal clinic at a tertiary care hospital in North India

Background: Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by bacteria named Treponema palladium, subsp. pallidum. Nearly 1.36 million pregnant women are known to be affected by syphilis in the developing countries. When left untreated syphilis during pregnancy can result in adverse fetal outcomes such as spontaneous abortion and stillbirth. Objective of the study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of syphilis among pregnant females attending Antenatal Clinic (ANC).Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional study was done over a period of six months from January to June 2019. A total of 132 pregnant females were included in the study who attended Antenatal Clinic for routine checkup whose blood samples were sent to Microbiology Laboratory for screening for syphilis by Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) test.Results: Out of 132 samples of pregnant females screened for syphilis, none of the sample was found reactive for syphilis by RPR test. Maximum patients (57.6%) belonged to age group 20-25 years followed by (27.3%) of 26-30 years. 30.3% patients belonged to urban areas and 69.7% patients belonged to rural areas. Majority of patients (80.3%) belonged to first trimester, followed by (18.9%) patients to second trimester and (0.8%) patients to third trimester. 78.8% patients were from lower socio-economic class followed by 12.9% patients from middle class and 8.3% patients from upper class.Conclusions: Although zero percent syphilis prevalence was observed in this study, it is recommended that free screening for syphilis should be offered to all pregnant females visiting Antenatal Clinic.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus surface antigen among pregnant females attending antenatal clinic at a tertiary care hospital in North India

Background: Hepatitis B infection is one of the most common public health problems worldwide. Hepatitis B virus Surface Antigen (HBsAg) positive mothers may transmit the virus vertically to neonates transplacentally during pregnancy, perinatally during delivery or postnatally through breast milk. Such neonates being carriers of virus are at a very high risk of developing chronic liver diseases at a younger age and also, they act as reservoirs of infection in the community. Objective of the study is to evaluate the seroprevalence of HBsAg in pregnant females attending Antenatal Clinic.Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional study was done from January to June 2019. A total of 840 pregnant females were included in the study who attended Antenatal Clinic for routine checkup whose blood samples were sent to Microbiology Laboratory for screening of HBsAg by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA).Results: Out of 840 pregnant females included in the study, 8 were reactive to HBsAg, hence, prevalence was found to be 0.95%. The seroprevalence of HBsAg was found to be more (1.40%) in 26-35 year females. Maximum seropositivity was seen in females from urban areas (1.0%), those attending OPD of ANC (1.03%) and those who belonged to lower socio-economic class (1.02%).Conclusions: Routine free screening for HBV infection should be offered to all antenatal females to reduce the risk of vertical transmission to the neonates born to infected mothers, thereby, preventing them from becoming carriers and developing chronic hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma later in life.

Alterations in serum uric acid values in a sample of Nigerian pregnant women

Introduction: Serum uric acid level is an important prognostic variable in pregnancy as subjects with preeclampsia have elevated serum uric acid levels. Methods: The concentrations of serum uric acid were investigated in 100 women of which 75 were pregnant women and categorized into 3 groups of 25 each, based on their trimesters of pregnancy and 25 non-pregnant women, which served as control. Results: In the first trimester, the mean values of uric acid were 122 µmol/L with a decrease in the levels of uric acid when compared with the control levels of 308 µmol/L (p<0.05). In the second trimester, the values of uric acid were 199umol/l with a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the levels of uric acid when compared with the controls. In the third trimester of pregnancy, the values of uric acid were 360 µmol/L. There was a significant (p<0.05) increase in the level of uric acid when compared with the controls. Conclusion: The progressive increase in the levels of uric acid through the trimesters of pregnancy suggests an impairment in uric acid excretion, may be with concomitant increase in renal tubular re-absorp-tion of uric acid, thereby leading to hyperuricaemia.

Pattern of maternal weight gain among primigravidae in tertiary care hospital and urban health centre

Background: The appropriate amount of weight gain during pregnancy has been a topic of interest and debate over a century. A low body mass index (BMI) and suboptimal weight gain during pregnancy are long recognised risk factors for delivery of infants too small for gestational age.Methods: The present study was observational prospective study conducted among primigravidae in two groups with sample size 197 in tertiary care hospital antenatal clinic and 97 in urban health centre antenatal clinic for the period of 1year and 6 months.Results: In tertiary care hospital average weight gain was 10.04 kg with 33 (16.75%) women gained less than or equal to 8 kg weight gain, 148 (75.13%) gained weight in range of 8.1 to 16 kg while 16 (8.12) gained more than 15 kg weight during pregnancy while In urban health centre average weight gain was 8.96 kg with 46 (47.42%) women gained less than or equal to 8 kg weight gain, 45 (46.39%) gained weight in range of 8.1 to 16 kg while 6 (6.19%) gained more than 16 kg weight during pregnancy. Women with lower BMI found to gain lesser weight compared to normal body mass women.Conclusions: Presence of low BMI was an add on social risk factor which may adversely impact the weight gain in the mother and expected child.

Socio Demographic Profile Of Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic At Three Urban Health Centres Of Belagavi - A Cross Sectional Study

Background and Objective: Pregnancy is a unique, exciting and often joyous time in a woman's life, as it highlights the woman's amazing creative and nurturing powers while providing a bridge to the future. Proper antenatal care is one of the important ways in reducing maternal and child morbidity and mortality. Pregnancy comes with some cost, however, for a pregnant woman needs also to be a responsible woman so as to best support the health of her future child. This present study was conducted to assess the socio demographic profile of pregnant women attending antenatal clinic. Methodology: This one year cross sectional study was done in three UHCs Ram Nagar, Ashok Nagar and Rukmini Nagar which are urban field practice area of Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belagavi. Data was collected from 360 pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic of three UHCs. Information on socio demographic details was obtained. Results: Out of total 360 participants, In the present study mean age of study participants was 24.3±3.92 years, 54.7% were Muslim by religion. A large number of study participants had studied up to high school 37.8%. As many 95.3% pregnant women were housewives. Most of participants belonged to class III socio-economic status as per modified B G Prasad classification. 15.2% were having previous history of abortion Conclusion: There is a need for universal screening to pick up risk factor such as age ≥30 years and various other factors to prevent maternal and fetal morbidity. Risk factors such as age ≥30 years can lead to gestational diabetes mellitus in pregnant woman. To improve community awareness on Antenatal care, information, education and communication activities should be increased on Antenatal care through community campaign and mass media like local television channel, radio and local newspapers. There is a need to motivate women to utilize maternal care services which are freely available in all the government health set ups. Based on these results it concluded that, plan for preventive strategies and to improve maternal outcomes

Significant Bacteriuria Among Asymptomatic Antenatal Clinic Attendees In Ibadan, Nigeria

Untreated asymptomatic bacteriuria can lead to urinary tract infection (UTI) in pregnancy with devastating maternal and neonatal effects such as prematurity and low birth weight, higher fetal mortality rates and significant maternal morbidity. We carried out a two year (April 2007 to March 2009) cross-sectional epidemiological study to determine the prevalence of significant bacteriuria among asymptomatic antenatal clinic attendees at two antenatal clinics (ANCs) in University College Hospital and Adeoyo Maternity Hospital, both in Ibadan, Nigeria.<br />All consenting ANC attendees without UTI were enrolled in the study. Urine specimens of 5 to 10 ml collected from each subject were examined microscopically for white blood cells, red blood cells and bacteria. The specimens were further cultured on MacConkey agar using a sterile bacteriological loop that delivered 0.002 ml of urine. Colony counts yielding bacterial growth of more than 10⁵/ml of pure isolates were considered significant.<br />Of the 473 subjects studied, 136 had significant bacteriuria, giving a prevalence rate of 28.8%. The highest age specific prevalence (47.8%) was found in the 25–29 year olds while only one (0.7%) was found in the teenage group. A large percentage (64.0%) of subjects with significant bacteriuria had tertiary education, compared with 4.4% who had no formal education but the association was not statistically significant (X² = 0.47, p = 0.79). The majority (75.8%) of subjects with significant bacteriuria had no previous history of abortion, while 20 (14.7%) had one previous abortion and only three (2.1%) admitted to three previous abortions (X² = 5.16, p = 0.16). The majority (69.8%) of those with significant bacteriuria presented at second trimester while 38 (28.0%) presented at third trimester (X² = 6.5, p = 37).<br />Only 22 (4.6%) of the studied subjects presented at first trimester, and 3 (13.7%) of these had significant bacteriuria.<br />The prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria is high among this study population. Hence we suggest that advocacy programs be initiated to urge pregnant women to access ANC services early in pregnancy.

Breastfeeding pattern in mothers who delivered at Siriraj Hospital.

This is a study of patients who attended the antenatal clinic and were admitted to the service ward, Siriraj Hospital. There were 2,503 mothers who were contacted by phone. The rate of exclusive breastfeeding at 7 days, 1 months, 4 months and 6 months postpartum in this group was 83.4%, 69.5%, 33.1% and 18.6%, respectively. Some mothers stopped breastfeeding: 2.3% at 7 days, 6.1% at 1 month, 36.1% at 4 months and 61.3% at 6 months. The reasons for using artificial feeding or breastfeeding plus artificial feeding were classified into two periods. The reasons for the 7 day and 1 month periods were insufficient milk production (8.9% and 13.1%, respectively) and mothers having to work (4.6% and 14.8%, respectively). Reasons for the 4 month periods were 51.6% and 69.0% of mothers having to work. All mothers in this group were willing to breastfed their babies because they received knowledge and nipple preparation from the antenatal clinic. Some mothers stopped breastfeeding during early postpartum because of socioeconomic and social problems. However, 38.7% of mothers practiced full or partial breastfeeding at 6 month postpartum.