Toxoplasmosis and Associated Risk Factors in Antenatal Clinic follow up Pregnant Women in Selected Health Institutes of Jigjiga, East Ethiopia
Adugna Negussie *
Microbiology Unit, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Jigjiga University, Ethiopia.
Ermiyas Beyene
School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Jigjiga University, Ethiopia.
S. Palani
School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Jigjiga University, Ethiopia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii infections in pregnancy lead devastating effects including blindness, neurological impairment and mental retardation in congenitally infected children. Despite such adverse effects caused by this parasite, data on morbidities and associated risk factors among pregnant women in Jigjiga, Ethiopia is scarce. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondi infections and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care in public health institutes of Jigjiga, East Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was undertaken from September to January, 2013. Three hundred and one pregnant women attending antenatal clinic were screened for Toxoplasma gondi antibodies using commercially available Huma Tex TOXO test kits. Out of the 301 women tested, 105 (34.9%) has Toxoplasma antibody. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma was seen to be significantly associated with eye disease (p < 0.05). However results of this study show low seroprevalence rate there is the need to include the testing of Toxoplasma as a part of the antenatal investigation done on pregnant women and to educate women about the risk factors that lead to Toxoplasma gondi infection in order to reduce congenital malformations and death as a result of these infections.
Keywords: Toxoplasma gondi, seroprevalence, pregnancy, risk factor.