ABSTRACT
Objective Recent investigations have revealed that
COVID-19 during pregnancy substantially increases the
risk of harmful outcomes for mothers and neonates,
including preterm death and stillbirth as well as severe
maternal morbidity and mortality. Hence, the urgent
need to understand the prevalence rate and level of
awareness about COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 virus infection)
and the practice of preventive measures against the
disease among pregnant women in Somalia. This study
aims to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 among
pregnant women seeking antenatal care in the Benadir
region (Mogadishu) of Somalia and to assess their
knowledge and preventive practices towards COVID-19.
Setting A hospital-based cross-sectional study involving
two major referral maternity hospitals in Mogadishu,
Somalia.
Participants Pregnant women seeking antenatal services
were included in our study.
Methods A total of 477 blood samples were collected
from pregnant women attending the two referral
hospitals in Mogadishu and screened for COVID-19. The
participants were subjected to questionnaire interviews
where their detailed history and practice of prevention
against COVID-19 were evaluated.
Results The results showed that 175 (36.7%) were
positive while 302 (63.3%) samples were negative
for SARS-CoV-2 virus antibodies. Also, out of the 141
pregnant women who had two children or less, 19.4%
were positive for IgG/IgM antibodies. Participants who
had close contact with patients with COVID-19 were
significantly associated for testing positive with a p
value 0.0001. Students, teachers, employed people and
individuals reported COVID-19 like symptoms were all
associated with COVID-19 seropositivity outcomes.
Conclusion Pregnant women and those with
commorbidies should be given special preventive care
and health education about COVID-19 transmission