TY - BOOK AU - Elieza Charles Chibwe AU - Albert Kihunrwa AU - Mariam M. Mirambo TI - Sero-Prevalence and Associated Factors of Human Cytomegalovirus among Pregnant Women Attendings Antenatal Clinics in Mwanza North-Western Tanzania PY - 2016/// CY - Mwanza, Tanzania PB - Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences [CUHAS – Bugando] KW - N2 - Abstract: Background and Objectives: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the commonest cause of congenital viral infections globally. Thus, pregnancy and fetal adverse outcomes of HCMV infection among pregnant women have become the world’s common burden among other infections contacted during pregnancy. Despite its adverse pregnancy outcome, the epidemiological data is limited in most of the developing countries including Tanzania. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the magnitude of HCMV infection among pregnant women; the information that may be useful as baseline information to ascertain the gap for future research. Methods: A cross sectional hospital based study was conducted between December 2014 and August 2015 at Makongoro and Karume antenatal clinics at Nyamagana and Ilemela districts respectively in Mwanza city Tanzania. Structured questionnaires were used to collect socio-demographic and other clinical data. Indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test used to detect HCMV specific IgM and IgG antibodies. Results: A total of 261 pregnant women were enrolled with the median age of 20 (IQR, 19-25) years. A total of 193 (73.95% CI: 67.2-79.6) were HCMV specific IgG seropositive and only 1(0.4%) was found to be HCMV specific IgM seropositive and 67 was HCMV seronegative. Whenever there is a year increase in age, HCMV IgG seroprevalence increases by 0.3%. The history of miscarriage was significantly associated with IgG seropositivity (OR: 5.6, 95% CI, 1.29-24.178, p=0.021). Only urban residence (OR: 6.329, 95% CI: 2.885-13.887, p<0.001) was found to be an independent predictor of IgG seropositivity on multivariate logistic regression analysis. The IgM seropositive women had term delivery of the baby with micro-encephaly and spinal-bifida. Conclusion: About three quarters of pregnant women in Mwanza are HCMV specific IgG Seropositive HCMV infection in Mwanza is associated with urban residence. This signifies the importance of regular antenatal screening and preconception counseling of women in reproductive age ER -