Dengue virus infection and pregnancy outcomes during the 2017 outbreak in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso: A retrospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION: Dengue fever is a re-emerging pathology in Burkina Faso. It affects everyone and pregnant women are not left out. The objective of this study was to estimate the burden of dengue fever and to assess its effects on pregnancy outcomes in hospitalized pregnant women during the 2017 outbreak in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. METHOD: This was a retrospective cohort study including febrile pregnant women from five health facilities in Ouagadougou. The study was carried out from July 1st to December 31st, 2017. A logistic stepwise regression was performed to identify the pregnancy adverse outcomes risk factors. RESULTS: Our study included 424 pregnant women at a mean age of 27.1 years old (Standard deviation: 6.23 years). Overall 28.54% (121/424) were infected with dengue virus. During follow-up, 29.01% (123/424) presented an adverse pregnancy outcome. Adjusted for gestational age and clinical symptoms, the risk of adverse pregnancy outcome was twice as high among dengue infected women as compared to uninfected women with an adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) = 2.09 (1.08–4.05). The risk of the adverse pregnancy outcome was higher in the third trimester of pregnancy with aOR = 1.66 (1.02–2.72) in dengue fever infected women. CONCLUSION: Dengue fever is a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes, especially in the third trimester in Burkina Faso. The implementation of effective anti-vectorial control interventions and better management of dengue fever during pregnancy are needed to improve pregnancy outcomes.