Grant: Project Grant

Sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI) can significantly complicate pregnancy: congenital malformations, transmission to the neonates, premature deliveries, etc. In this context, routine screening is offered to pregnant persons. Some screenings are done for all, while others are based on risk factors identified by the patient and the clinician. On the other hand, the pregnant persons may be unaware of their risk factors. There are also sometimes discrepancies between couples with regard to STBBI. One is positive while the other is not. If only the pregnant person is tested, and is negative while the partner is infected, the pregnant person could become infected later in the pregnancy. Offering screening to partners at the start of pregnancy would make it possible to identify more at-risk pregnant people and avoid intra-pregnancy infections, as well as allowing partners to be taken care of. Implementing such a program will require an evaluation of its cost-effectiveness and its ability to identify more STBBI than the strategies already in place. Given the relatively low prevalence of STBBI in Canada, a large-scale study will be required. The present project is therefore a feasibility study to assess the acceptability of such a program, and to provide baseline data to evaluate whether a larger project would be desirable and feasible. Partners of pregnant persons will be recruited by direct contact, if present at prenatal visits, or indirectly, if absent. To ensure a good representation of the population, five hospitals will take part in this study. Participants will be screened for STBBI and complete a questionnaire. A sub-group of 60 people will then take part in interviews to determine the acceptability of this type of program, its strengths and weaknesses, and any issues that STBBI screening might have created in the couple. If the results of the feasibility study are conclusive, a larger study will be developed.