Assessment of COVID-19 prevalence in pregnant women attending antenatal care in Kano metropolis

Abstract

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, continues to significantly impact public health worldwide, with pregnant women among the most vulnerable groups. This cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence of COVID-19 among 400 pregnant women receiving antenatal care in Kano Metropolis, Nigeria. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected and tested for SARS-CoV-2 using RT
qPCR. Clinical and demographic data were analyzed using statistical techniques to explore correlations between infection rates and sociodemographic characteristics. The highest positivity rates were observed among pregnant women aged 20–29 years (5.25%) and those with secondary education (4.25%), with an overall COVID-19 prevalence of 11.25%. Housewives and unemployed participants exhibited the highest infection rates (5.0%), while the second trimester recorded the most positive cases (5.75%) across all trimesters. Multigravidas showed a higher prevalence (5.0%) compared to other categories. A significant correlation was found between SARS
CoV-2 positivity and a history of contact with confirmed COVID-19 cases (p-value = 0.0001). However, no significant associations were identified between infection and variables such as age, trimester, gravidity, or underlying symptoms. Notably, asymptomatic cases constituted the majority of infections (2.75%), underscoring the need for routine testing to detect hidden cases and prevent
transmission. Cycle threshold (Ct) values for RdRp, N gene, and E gene indicated lower viral loads compared to studies conducted during the pandemic's peak, suggesting possible variations in viral dynamics over time. These findings underscore the continued prevalence of COVID-19 among pregnant women in Kano, highlighting the critical need for sustained surveillance, comprehensive testing strategies to improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes.