Prevalence and impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on maternal and infant health in African populations: protocol of a multicentre prospective cohort study (MA-CoV project)

IntroductionPregnant women are currently considered a vulnerable population to SARS-CoV-2 infection, with increased risk of severe COVID-19, preterm birth and maternal mortality. There is, however, a paucity of data on the burden of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection in sub-Saharan countries. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence and health effects of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection in selected sites from Gabon and Mozambique.Methods and analysisMA-CoV (MAternal CoVid) is an observational, multicentre prospective cohort study where 1000 pregnant women (500 per country) will be enrolled at the antenatal clinic visits. Participants will undergo monthly follow-up at each antenatal care visit, delivery and postpartum visit. The primary study outcome is the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy. The clinical presentation of COVID-19 in pregnancy will also be characterised, and incidence of infection during pregnancy will be evaluated, as well as the risk factors of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and the risk of mother to child transmission of SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 infection screening will be performed through PCR diagnosis.Ethics and disseminationThe protocol was reviewed and approved by the Comite National d'ethique pour la Recherche au Gabon, Comite Nacional de Bioetica para Saude de Mocambique and the Ethics Committee of the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona (Spain). Project results will be presented to all stakeholders and published in open access journals.