This study is a cross-sectional questionnaire survey conducted in a tertiary teaching hospital. A total of 327 pregnant women who attended the antenatal clinic for GBS screening from April 2012 to May 2012 were included in our study. The acceptability of GBS self-screening and its associated factors were analyzed.
Of these women, 200/320 (62.5%) participants preferred screening by healthcare workers, whereas only 18/320 (5.6%) preferred self-screening. The most common reasons why some participants preferred to be screened by clinicians were that professionals had greater knowledge, and the added worry about the accuracy of self-screening. 22/320 (69.4%) and 195/320 (60.9%) women believed that they felt comfortable enough to self-perform the vaginal swab and rectal swab respectively. Previous use of tampons was associated with higher perceived capability of self-performing the vaginal swab. Perceived capability to self-perform the rectovaginal swabs was associated with a willingness to self-perform the swabs (p < 0.001). The majority of women, 303/320 (94.7%), found the current practice of an additional clinic visit for GBS screening acceptable. However, 218/320 (68.1%) participants would like to undertake self-screening if they were given the chance to do so in the next pregnancy, and 187/320 (58.4%) would recommend others have self-screening for GBS as well.
Most women in the local population still preferred physician-collected samples for GBS screening, but they welcomed the option of self-screening in future pregnancies. Improved health education about the importance of GBS screening may improve the willingness of women to perform self-screening.