Seroprevalence and potential risk factors of T. gondii infection in pregnant women attending antenatal care at Bonga Hospital, Southwestern Ethiopia

• Published in: International journal of infectious diseases Vol. 57; no. C; pp. 44 - 49
• Main Authors: Negero, Jalel, Yohannes, Moti, Woldemichael, Kifle, Tegegne, Dechassa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Canada Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2017; Elsevier
• Subjects: Abortion, Spontaneous; Adolescent; Adult; Antibodies, Protozoan - blood; Cross-Sectional Studies; Ethiopia - epidemiology; Female; Humans; Infectious Disease; Meat - parasitology; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic - epidemiology; Prenatal Care; Pulmonary/Respiratory; Risk Factors; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; Toxoplasmosis - epidemiology; Toxoplasmosis - etiology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1201-9712; 1878-3511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2017.01.013

Highlights • We conducted a cross-sectional survey on 210 pregnant women attending ante natal care in Southwestern Ethiopia in order to detriment seroprevallence of T.gondii infection. • Out of the total of 210 pregnant women serum studied for the presence or absence of anti- T. gondii antibodies, 159 (75.7%). • Independent variables like age, residence, gravidity, history of abortion, presence of cats at home, eating of raw meat, eating of raw vegetables, drinking water from river/wells and failure to wash hands after handling of raw meat were significantly associated with T.gondii seropositivity. • The odds ratio for having T. gondii infection was high in pregnant women within the age category between 36–44 years. • A better understanding of seroepidemiology of T. gondii will guide for the mitigation strategy especially in those of vulnerable group (pregnant women, immuno compromised patient).