Seroprevlence and Risk Factor of ToxoplasmaGondii Infection Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care At Tikur Anbesa General Specialized and Gandhi Memorial Hospitals AddisAbaba, Ethioia

Abstract

Background: Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. It is acquired mainly by eating raw or undercooked meat containing T. gondii tissue cyst, eating food or water contaminated with oocyst shed in the feces of infected cats, and acquiring congenital infection through the placenta. The fetus can become infected with toxoplasmosis if the mother becomes infected with toxoplasmosis during pregnancy.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of toxoplasmosis and assessing the possible risk factors associated with the infection among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Tikur Anbesa General Specialized and Gandhi Memorial Hospitals.

 

 

Method: Cross sectional study was designed to determine the prevalence of toxoplasmosis among pregnant women. 288 serum samples were collected during November 1^st 2010 to January 2011. The serum samples were tested for anti- Toxoplasma gondii antibodies using latex agglutination test. The risk factors associated with exposure to toxoplasmosis were tested for significance using the Chi-square test. The significance level at 5% and the limits of reliability at 95% was used. A statistical software package of SPSS version 16 was used for data analysis.

 

Result: Out of 288 pregnant women tested, whose mean age was 28.41 ± 4.21, 85.4 % (246/288) were positive for anti T.gondii antibody. Significant association was observed between seroprevalence and age (P = 0.047). No significant association was observed between seroprevalence and gestational age, socio demographic characters, history of abortion, consumption of raw or undercooked meat, consumption of raw vegetable, owning of cat, and blood transfusion.

 

Conclusion: prevalence of toxoplasmosis among pregnant women in Ethiopia is higher than that reported from other countries. Increased seroprevalance with age was a predictable result explained by the older the person the longer time being exposed to the causing agent.

 

Key words: Toxoplasma gondii, congenital, Ethiopia.