Determination of anti-COVID-19 IgG and IgM seroprevalence among pregnant women at Pietersburg Hospital, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

Background. COVID-19 has been a major public health concern globally, leading to a higher mortality rate, especially among immunosuppressed individuals, who include pregnant women, people with HIV and people living with other comorbidities. Pregnant women are considered to be a special population group owing to their specific susceptibility to some infectious diseases. Objective. To determine the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic. Method. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study that tested blood samples from pregnant women who attended the antenatal clinic from March to July 2022 using the Orient Gene Biotech lateral flow immune-chromatographic assay according to manufacturer instructions. The assay detects IgM and IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Results. A total of 2 649 blood samples were tested; 2 039 (77.0%) samples tested positive for IgG, 7 (0.3%) tested positive for IgM, and 100 (3.7%) tested positive for both IgG and IgM. The study found a seroprevalence of 80.7% of IgG. Conclusion. The study findings showed evidence of acute COVID-19 infection in our patient population despite the consensus that COVID-19 infection is dissipating.