Prospective Risk Factors of Toxoplasmosis Seropositivity in Pregnant Women: The Fundamental Role of Community Healthcare Education

Abstract

Background: The present study conducted a survey on awareness of toxoplasmosis infection, with an emphasis on risk factors, and an assessment of toxoplasmosis prevalence in pregnant women in Al-Kharj province of KSA. Methods and Results: A cross-sectional study with a qualitative approach was carried out from August 2018 to February 2019. The study recruited all pregnant women who attended maternity and children’s outpatient clinics. The non-probability sampling approach was used to select 345 blood samples from study subjects. T. gondii-specific IgG and IgM antibodies were identified using ELISA. Each participant enrolled in the study was provided with a validated questionnaire to fill out by an assistant of the laboratory technician or an antenatal care nurse. In addition to socio-demographic data, simple closed-ended questions about established risk factors for T. gondii exposure were included in the questionnaire items, and answers were listed in a three-point Likert scale (agree, disagree, I am not sure). The overall prevalence of T. gondii-specific antibodies among study subjects was 12.75%; 29(8.40%) women were positive for IgG only, 9(2.6%) - for IgM, and 6(1.7%) - for both IgG and IgM antibodies. About 41.4% of participants were in the first trimester of pregnancy; among them 31(9%) were positive for T. gondii antibodies. 82.8% of pregnant women had chronic infection in the first trimester, while 44.4% of those women also had an acute infection. The number of respondents to the questionnaire was 345 participants with a response rate of about 100%. It is important to note that 81.5% of women were unaware that toxoplasmosis is dangerous, and two-thirds of them didn't know the dangerous complications for the fetus and newborn. Conclusion: The current study concludes that there is a low prevalence of toxoplasmosis among Saudi pregnant women in Al-Kharj province. A general program must be implemented to increase population awareness, especially among the at-risk populations.