Educating women about congenital cytomegalovirus: assessment of health education materials through a web-based survey

Simani Price ,Christina L Kilgo,Denise M. Levis ,Paul L. Zador ,Erika Bonilla,Michael J. Cannon

doi:10.1186/preaccept-1025186331138691

Abstract

Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common congenital infection in the U.S. and can result in permanent disabilities, such as hearing and vision loss, intellectual disability, and psychomotor and language impairments. Women can adopt prevention behaviors in an attempt to reduce their exposure to CMV. Currently, few women are familiar with CMV. To increase awareness of CMV, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed draft health education materials. The purpose of this study was to pilot test two health education materials to gauge their appeal and to determine if they increase knowledge about CMV and motivate audiences to seek additional information on CMV and adopt CMV prevention behaviors. African-American (n = 404) and Caucasian women (n = 405), who had a young child and were either pregnant or planning a pregnancy, were recruited to participate in a 15-minute web survey. Participants were randomly assigned to view one of two CMV health education materials, either a factsheet or video. Pre and post survey measures were used to assess changes in knowledge of CMV and motivation to adopt prevention behaviors. We also examined audience preferences regarding materials and motivation. CMV knowledge score increased significantly after presentation of either the video or factsheet (from 3.7 out of 10 to 9.1 out of 10, p <0.001). The average materials appeal score was high, with a mean of 3.6 on a four-point scale, indicating women responded very positively to both materials. Regression analyses indicated that appeal, message involvement (e.g., information seeking, discussing with others), post materials knowledge score, and viewing the video (vs. factsheet) were significantly positively associated with increased support for CMV prevention behaviors. Overall, we found that the health education materials improved women’s knowledge of CMV and encouraged them to adopt prevention behaviors. Given the low awareness levels among women currently, these findings suggest that appropriate education materials have the potential to greatly increase knowledge of CMV. As women become more knowledgeable about CMV and transmission routes, we expect they will be more likely to adopt prevention behaviors, thereby reducing their risk of CMV infection.

Highlights

Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common congenital infection in the U.S and can result in permanent disabilities, such as hearing and vision loss, intellectual disability, and psychomotor and language impairments
An estimated 28,000 infants are born each year with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV), the most common congenital infection in the U.S.; of those infected, approximately 150-200 children will die and nearly 20% will suffer permanent disabilities, such as hearing and vision loss, intellectual disability, psychomotor delays, and speech and language impairments [1,2,3]
The main goals of this study were to assess CMV health education materials to see if they are appealing to women, if they increase knowledge about CMV, and if they motivate women to seek additional information on CMV and follow CMV prevention behaviors

Summary

Introduction

Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common congenital infection in the U.S and can result in permanent disabilities, such as hearing and vision loss, intellectual disability, and psychomotor and language impairments. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has advised women with young children to use safe-handling techniques after handling diapers or after exposure to respiratory secretions [12]. In addition to this advice, researchers who have conducted CMV behavioral interventions have advised women to avoid kissing young children on the mouth, to refrain from sharing food, drink, and utensils, and to cleanse toys and other objects that may be exposed to children’s body fluids [13,14]. Surveys estimate that only between 14% and 22% of U.S women have heard of CMV, and few are familiar with outcomes, transmission modes, or prevention strategies [15,16]

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