Risk Factors for Maternal Chagas Disease and Vertical Transmission in a Bolivian Hospital.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Vertical transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi infection accounts for a growing proportion of new cases of Chagas disease. Better risk stratification is needed to predict which women are more likely to transmit the infection.

Methods

This study enrolled women and their infants at the Percy Boland Women's Hospital in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Pregnant women were screened for Chagas disease by rapid test and received confirmatory serology. Infants of seropositive mothers underwent diagnostic testing with quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).

Results

Among 5828 enrolled women, 1271 (21.8%) screened positive for Chagas disease. Older maternal age, family history of Chagas disease, home conditions, lower educational level, and history of living in a rural area w

SUBMITTER: Klein MD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8561268 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature