A 2-Min Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Awareness Video Improves Pregnant Women's Knowledge and Planned Adherence to Hygiene Precautions.

Abstract

Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) is a leading infectious cause of life-long neurodevelopmental disabilities, but public awareness of CMV is low. This study evaluated a short educational video on cCMV for its acceptability and impact on pregnant women's knowledge and planned hygiene adherence. Participants were pregnant women recruited from an Australian tertiary maternity hospital clinic and social media (May 2023 to May 2024). Participants completed online surveys: before the video (T1), immediately after (T2), and 8 weeks later (T3). Linear mixed effects models assessed changes in knowledge and intended adherence to CMV precautions, adjusting for previous CMV education, and parity. A total of n = 296 eligible pregnant women were recruited, n = 270 completed the T1 survey and watched the video. Participants (n = 270) had a median age of 33 years (range: 18-43 years), 21% were multiparous and 30% had received previous CMV education. Of the 270 participants who completed the T1 survey and viewed the video, 202 (75%) and 109 (40%) completed surveys at T2 and T3 respectively. Adjusted total mean CMV knowledge scores increased significantly between T1 and T2 (+2.38; p < 0.001) and remained higher at T3 (+2.14; p < 0.001). Self-reported adherence to hygiene precautions improved from T1 to T2 (p < 0.001) and were maintained for four out of five key behaviours at T3. Participants (99%) found the content valuable, and 91% agreed that CMV precautions were "easy" to follow. A CMV education video is a simple, effective method to improve pregnant women's knowledge and planned adherence to hygiene precautions.