CMV infection prevention during pregnancy: a call for effective and sustained educational efforts

Most screening guidelines for CMV are of medium to low quality as they contain low-level evidence and lack data to implement into clinical practice guidelines. There is a need for healthcare providers to increase women’s awareness of CMV by developing culturally tailored communication skills and resources to educate pregnant women, develop effective screening guidelines and promote its adherence, raise awareness on preventive behavior, and improve management of CMV infections in U.S. underserved communities. The following commentary explores the growing cultural and racial/ethnic diversity in the United States and its impact on CMV infection rates among U.S. pregnant women, showing differences in impact among various racial/ethnic groups and the importance of equal access. It also emphasizes the educational challenges faced by healthcare providers in raising awareness on CMV infections, prevention, management, and adherence to guidelines. Finally, this commentary highlights the role of health literacy and its association with various social determinants of health (SDOH), such as race/ethnicity, insurance status, and language barriers, along with misconceptions towards CMV screenings.