Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma Gondii infection and its risk factors in women of child-bearing age in selected health institutions of central Ethiopia
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Date
2012-06
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Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Background: Toxoplasmosis is an important zoonotic parasitic disease worldwide.Congenital
transmission of T. gondii during pregnancy has been regarded as a risk factor for the health of
newborn infants.Prevalence and risk factors of toxoplasmosis in women of childbearing age in
Ethiopia are unknown.
Objective: Estimating the seroprevalence and potential risk factors in acquiring T. gondii
infection by women of child-bearing age in Central Ethiopia.
Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2011 to January 2012 in child
bearing age women of sample size of 425 in central Ethiopia. Indirect ELISA IgG and IgM test
in parallel structured questionnaire was used to assess possible risk factors and knowledge and
perception of health professionals about the disease. The data was cleaned, coded using
Microsoft excel sheet and transferred to SPSS soft ware’s version 20 for data analysis.
Results: The study revealed that anti-T. gondii antibodies were detected in 81.4% of the samples
of which 69.4% were positive for only IgG and 12.0% positive for both IgG and IgM antibodies.
Of the 213 pregnant women 57 (26.8%) were IgM reactive. Out of 17 potential risk factors
investigated, univariable logistic regression showed significant association of T. gondii infection
with study area, age, pregnancy status, raw vegetable consumption, source of water, presence of
cat at home, contact with cat, HIV status and precaution during cats’ feces cleaning (P≤0.05).
Almost all child bearing age women had no awareness or information regarding health risk of
cats and toxoplasmosis. From health professionals, 63% (63) of them had knowledge of
toxoplasmosis. Among health professionals 47.3% didn’t knew the importance of testing
toxoplasmosis during pregnancy and (93%) do not screen pregnant women but 78% of them had
an exposure of toxoplasmosis in patient and all of them didn’t gave health education.
Conclusion: Results of current study showed that the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in
women of child-bearing age in central Ethiopia is high. Study area, pregnancy and raw vegetable
consumption are risk factors to acquire T.gondii infection. Educational program, antenatal
screening of pregnant women and further epidemiological studies to uncover the economic and
health impact of toxoplasmosis are suggested.
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Keywords
Toxoplasma gondii, Seroprevalence, Cross-sectional, Risk factors, Central Ethiopia,ELISA.