Toxoplasmosis seroprevalence in relation to knowledge and practice among pregnant women in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

The epidemiological importance of the different routes of Toxoplasma gondii transmission is not known and depends largely on population behaviour and knowledge. This study was conducted to assess toxoplasmosis seropositivity and the related knowledge and preventive practices that are necessary for t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pathogens and global health 2015-01, Vol.109 (8), p.377-382
Main Authors: Elsafi, Salah H., AL-Mutairi, Wasaef F., Al-Jubran, Khalid M., Abu Hassan, Mohamed M., Al Zahrani, Eidan M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Antibodies, Protozoan - blood
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Immunoglobulin
Immunoglobulin G - blood
Knowledge
Original
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic - blood
Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic - immunology
Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic - parasitology
Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic - psychology
Pregnant women
Risk factors
Saudi Arabia - epidemiology
Seroepidemiologic Studies
Surveys and Questionnaires
Toxoplasma - immunology
Toxoplasma gondii
Toxoplasmosis - blood
Toxoplasmosis - epidemiology
Toxoplasmosis - immunology
Toxoplasmosis - psychology
Young Adult
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Summary:The epidemiological importance of the different routes of Toxoplasma gondii transmission is not known and depends largely on population behaviour and knowledge. This study was conducted to assess toxoplasmosis seropositivity and the related knowledge and preventive practices that are necessary for the prevention of the disease among pregnant women. All pregnant women attending antenatal clinic were tested for T. gondii immunoglobulins followed by a survey questionnaire that tested their knowledge and preventive practice. Statistical comparisons were made between the seropositive and negative ones. We determined a low to moderate seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among pregnant women in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia as compared to many other parts of the world. The overall positivity rates of IgG and IgM against T. gondii among 400 pregnant women were 28.5 and 3%, respectively. 75.5% of the participants had never heard about toxoplasmosis and the associated risk factors. Lack of knowledge was associated with the higher risk of infection (OR = 4.04, p 
ISSN:2047-7724
2047-7732
DOI:10.1080/20477724.2015.1103502