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Women's Health| Volume 42, ISSUE 3, P269-276, March 2020

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Overview of a Provincial Prenatal Communicable Disease Screening Program: 2002-2016

Published:August 22, 2019DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogc.2019.05.013

      Abstract

      Objective

      This study sought to provide a 14-year overview of serological results from a provincial prenatal screening program.

      Methods

      Prenatal screening data from August 2002 to December 2016 were extracted from the Alberta Public Health Laboratory (ProvLab) Information system. Data were analyzed by year, communicable disease marker, test result, and maternal age category. The age-stratified proportion of seropositive results for hepatitis B virus, human immunodeficiency virus, and syphilis was determined, and the proportion of seronegative results was determined for rubella and varicella. The Mann Kendall Trend Test was performed to identify significant temporal trends in the results (Canadian Task Force Classification II-2).

      Results

      In total 821 910 prenatal specimens were examined. Overall, the proportion of prenatal specimens positive for hepatitis B virus showed a slight statistically significant upward trend from 0.50% in 2003 to 0.58% in 2016 (P = 0.03). The proportion of positive human immunodeficiency virus prenatal specimens showed no significant trend over the study period. The proportion of positive syphilis specimens increased from 2006 to 2008 (0.07% to 0.21%; P < 0.0001) and stayed relatively constant until a decrease began in 2015. The proportion of seronegative specimens for varicella and rubella showed a significant upward trend of 0.48% per year (P < 0.01) and 0.88% per year (P < 0.01), respectively.

      Conclusion

      The Alberta Prenatal Screening Program for Selected Communicable Diseases presents a unique data set that allows us to look at screening results on a provincial level. Trends in results are reflective of communicable disease trends in the general population and should be monitored for effective infectious disease management of the maternal and newborn population.

      Résumé

      Objectif

      Cette étude visait à fournir une synthèse des résultats sérologiques recueillis pendant 14 années dans le cadre d'un programme provincial de dépistage prénatal.

      Méthodologie

      Les données de dépistage prénatal recueillies entre août 2002 et décembre 2016 ont été extraites du système d'information du laboratoire de santé publique de l'Alberta (ProvLab). Les données ont été analysées par année, marqueur de maladie transmissible, résultat d'analyse et catégorie d'âge maternel. On a déterminé la proportion de résultats séropositifs par tranche d'âge pour le virus de l'hépatite B, le virus de l'immunodéficience humaine et la syphilis, ainsi que la proportion de résultats séronégatifs pour la rubéole et la varicelle. Le test de tendance de Mann-Kendall a permis de relever des tendances temporelles significatives dans les résultats (classification du Groupe d'étude canadien n° II-2).

      Résultats

      Au total, 821 910 échantillons prénataux ont été examinés. Dans l'ensemble, la proportion d'échantillons prénataux séropositifs pour l'hépatite B a affiché une légère hausse statistiquement significative en passant de 0,50 % en 2003 à 0,58 % en 2016 (P = 0,03). La proportion d'échantillons prénataux séropositifs pour le virus de l'immunodéficience humaine n'a affiché aucune tendance significative pendant la période à l'étude. La proportion d'échantillons séropositifs pour la syphilis a augmenté de 2006 à 2008 (0,07 % à 0,21 %; P < 0,0001) et est demeurée relativement stable jusqu'à ce qu'une diminution s'amorce en 2015. La proportion d'échantillons séronégatifs pour la varicelle et la rubéole a affiché une importante tendance à la hausse, de l'ordre de 0,48 % (P < 0,01) et 0,88 % par année (P < 0.01) respectivement.

      Conclusions

      Le programme albertain de dépistage prénatal des maladies transmissibles sélectionnées présente un ensemble de données unique qui nous permet d'étudier les résultats de dépistage à l'échelle provinciale. Les tendances relevées dans les résultats reflètent celles observées dans la population générale pour les maladies transmissibles et devraient faire l'objet d'une surveillance afin d'assurer une prise en charge efficace des maladies infectieuses au sein de la population maternelle et néonatale.

      Key Words

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