# Awareness and understanding of cytomegalovirus infection among polish pregnant women: A CASP-W cross-sectional study

## TL;DR

This study finds that Polish pregnant women have only moderate knowledge about cytomegalovirus, with higher awareness linked to private healthcare and higher income.

## Contribution

The first national survey in Poland assessing cytomegalovirus awareness among pregnant women, identifying socioeconomic and healthcare factors influencing knowledge.

## Key findings

- Mean knowledge score was moderate and not influenced by whether a woman had given birth before.
- Higher knowledge was associated with private prenatal care, higher income, and daily contact with young children.
- Public prenatal care and living in rural or medium-sized cities were linked to lower knowledge.

## Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate awareness and understanding of congenital cytomegalovirus infection among pregnant women in Poland and to identify factors associated with higher knowledge.

Methods: A web-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Poland between February and July 2024, using an anonymous online questionnaire distributed via obstetric–gynecologic clinics and social media. A total of 1015 fully completed responses were analyzed. Knowledge was assessed using a 15-item score and dichotomized at the median. Group comparisons were performed using t-tests or Wilcoxon tests, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with knowledge (p < 0.05).

Results: The mean knowledge score was 7.70 ± 3.60, with no difference between primiparous and multiparous women. Higher odds of high knowledge were associated with daily contact with children under three years of age (OR 1.60; 95 %CI 1.20,2.14) and comfortable household income (OR 1.56; 95 %CI 1.20,2.04). Lower knowledge was associated with public prenatal care (OR 0.65; 95 %CI 0.46,0.94), residence in medium-sized cities (OR 0.59; 95 %CI 0.39,0.88), and rural areas (OR 0.61; 95 %CI 0.44,0.85).

Conclusions: Pregnant women in Poland demonstrate only moderate awareness of congenital cytomegalovirus, with significant socioeconomic and healthcare-related disparities, indicating a need for early targeted education within public antenatal services.

•First national survey of cytomegalovirus awareness among 1015 Polish pregnant women.•Mean cytomegalovirus knowledge score was moderate and independent of parity.•Higher knowledge associated with private care, higher income, and child contact.•Public prenatal care and rural or mid-sized city residence predicted lower knowledge.•Findings support targeted cytomegalovirus education in public antenatal services.

First national survey of cytomegalovirus awareness among 1015 Polish pregnant women.

Mean cytomegalovirus knowledge score was moderate and independent of parity.

Higher knowledge associated with private care, higher income, and child contact.

Public prenatal care and rural or mid-sized city residence predicted lower knowledge.

Findings support targeted cytomegalovirus education in public antenatal services.