Physicians and Nurses’ Awareness of Transmission and Prevention Methods of Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection

Abstract

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most frequent cause of congenital virus infections. Considering limited treatment options, prevention methods and awareness of CMV are of utmost importance. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Alzahra Hospital (Isfahan, Iran) during 2010-11. It evaluated physicians and nurses’ awareness of congenital CMV infection. The participants’ age, sex, job and other demographic characteristics were collected using a questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS18. Findings: Of 400 participants, 98 (30 male, 68 female) were physicians and 302 (52 male, 250 female) were nurses. The mean ± SD of age was 36.7 ± 9.1 years. Among male physicians, weak, moderate, and favorable awareness was found in one, 18, and 11 subjects, respectively. While none of the female physicians had weak awareness, 11 had moderate awareness and others had favorable awareness (P = 0.01). In addition 31, 14, and seven male nurses had weak, moderate, and favorable awareness. No female nurse had weak awareness. Moderate and favorable awareness was detected in 83 and 39 female nurses, respectively (P = 0.04). Conclusion: According to results of this study, hospital staff need educations about congenital CMV and its transmission and prevention methods. Keywords: Congenital cytomegalovirus, Transmission methods, Awareness, Prevention methods