Zoli Shahad I, Baiti Maisa A, Alhazmi Atyaf A, Khormi Raud M, Sayegh Maram A, Altubayqi Tahani, Darisi Afnan M, Alhasani Raffan A, Alhazmi Saleha H, Gharawi Sarah O, Muhajir Abdulrahman A, Alhazmi Abdulaziz H
Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
General Directorate of Health Affairs, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
J Multidiscip Healthc. 2023 Jul 26;16:2109-2116. doi: 10.2147/JMDH.S421412. eCollection 2023.
Group B streptococcus (GBS) infection is one of the leading causes of neonatal sepsis and meningitis. GBS screening and intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis can effectively prevent early-onset GBS disease. This study aimed to assess the awareness of the risks of GBS infection and screening in Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia.
A cross-sectional study was conducted using a survey of 995 women aged 18-45 in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected between January to April 2023 and included information on sociodemographic characteristics, awareness of GBS infection, and perspectives on GBS screening.
The response rate was 97.45%, and the mean age of the participants was 31.50 ± 9.80 years. Most were married (60.2%), had a university education (81.11%), and 59% were pregnant or had a pregnancy history. Only 23% had heard of GBS, associated with age, marital status, job, pregnancy status, awareness of GBS risk factors, and pregnancy follow-up (p < 0.05). Women most aware were students (55.9%), married (55.46%), pregnant or had a pregnancy history (51.09%), knew risk factors of GBS (38.86%), and were followed by a specialist (88.14%). Regarding GBS screening preferences, 40% preferred universal screening without consent, 31% with consent, 16% for high-risk pregnancies with consent, and 13% for high-risk pregnancies without consent.
The study found low awareness of GBS among women residing in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. Factors related to demographic details and obstetric follow-up were associated with better understanding. Most women preferred universal screening for GBS, with or without consent. Effective health education is needed to raise women's awareness of screening benefits and risks. This education can help women make informed decisions and improve prevention and care. Future studies may evaluate healthcare providers' awareness of GBS.
B族链球菌（GBS）感染是新生儿败血症和脑膜炎的主要病因之一。GBS筛查和产时抗生素预防可有效预防早发性GBS疾病。本研究旨在评估沙特阿拉伯吉赞省对GBS感染风险及筛查的认知情况。
采用横断面研究方法，对沙特阿拉伯吉赞省995名18至45岁的女性进行调查。数据收集时间为2023年1月至4月，包括社会人口学特征、对GBS感染的认知以及对GBS筛查的看法等信息。
应答率为97.45%，参与者的平均年龄为31.50±9.80岁。大多数人已婚（60.2%），拥有大学学历（81.11%），59%怀孕或有妊娠史。只有23%听说过GBS，这与年龄、婚姻状况、工作、妊娠状态、对GBS危险因素的认知以及孕期随访有关（p<0.05）。认知度最高的女性是学生（55.9%）、已婚（55.46%）、怀孕或有妊娠史（51.09%）、了解GBS危险因素（38.86%），并且由专科医生随访（88.14%）。关于GBS筛查偏好，40%倾向于未经同意的普遍筛查，31%倾向于经同意的筛查，16%倾向于对高危妊娠经同意的筛查，13%倾向于对高危妊娠未经同意的筛查。
研究发现，沙特阿拉伯吉赞省女性对GBS的认知度较低。与人口统计学细节和产科随访相关的因素与更好的理解有关。大多数女性倾向于对GBS进行普遍筛查，无论是否获得同意。需要开展有效的健康教育，以提高女性对筛查益处和风险的认识。这种教育有助于女性做出明智的决策，改善预防和护理。未来的研究可以评估医疗保健提供者对GBS的认知情况。
