COVID-19 and pregnancy: Investigation of serological markers and associated factors

COVID-19 is a major public health emergency that has recently shaken the world. Pregnant women have not been spared from this pandemic. Although there is no clinical difference between them and the general population, pregnant women are at increased risk of developing severe forms and pregnancy-related complications. The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and to identify associated factors in pregnant women followed at the Regional Hospital Center (CHR) of Saint-Louis, Senegal. A cross-sectional, prospective and descriptive study was conducted among 400 pregnant women followed at the Saint-Louis Regional Hospital (Senegal) over a five-month period from March to July, 2021. None of the patients had received an anti-COVID-19 vaccine. Determination of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was performed by the Healgen IgG/IgM SARS-CoV-2 qualitative rapid test. 400 pregnant women were included in the study. The mean age was 27.8 years (±6.3). The most representative age group was between 25 and 29 years with 29%. The majority of patients (76.8%) were housewives. Only 41 patients (10.3%) had travelled outside Saint-Louis (Senegal) in the previous 6 months. None of the patients had received anti-COVID-19 vaccine. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing was positive in 232 cases (58%). IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were present in all the 232 women (100%) and IgM was in 6 cases (2.6%). The study showed a high seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 in pregnant women followed at the Saint-Louis Regional Hospital (Senegal) showing a large underestimation of the pandemic in that population. Further evaluation on the role of SRAS-CoV-2 antibodies in the protection against the virus or outcome of pregnancy women need to be investigated on a larger size of pregnant women.