Awareness, knowledge and attitudes of lead maternity carers towards early-onset neonatal group B streptococcal disease.

AIM: To determine awareness, knowledge and attitudes of lead maternity carers (LMCs) towards early-onset neonatal group B streptococcus (GBS) infection and its prevention.

METHODS

An anonymous, self-administered questionnaire was sent to the 155 practising LMCs in Wellington and Hutt Valley.

RESULTS

Completed questionnaires were returned by 84 (54%) LMCs (59 midwives). 66 (79%) believed perinatal GBS infections were important, 70 (85%) supported antenatal screening, while 68 (81%) were confident of determining risk factors for GBS infection and counselling women. However, less than one-third nominated major risk factors, none identified all five high-risk criteria and only 22 (26%) regularly discussed GBS with clients. When asked to name high-risk criteria, midwives were more likely than doctors to disclose they had incomplete knowledge or not to answer this item (53% vs 20%; p < 0.006). Of the 48 (57%) LMCs routinely employing GBS prevention strategies, 34 (71%) used culture-based screening, relying mainly upon high-vaginal swabs from the first-trimester.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite widespread awareness of perinatal GBS disease, only 57% of surveyed LMCs practised prevention strategies and none completely followed published recommendations. A New Zealand consensus or improved dissemination of local guidelines is required to achieve further reductions in neonatal GBS sepsis.