Evaluation of the level of awareness of congenital toxoplasmosis and associated practices among pregnant women and health workers in Tanzania's Temeke District
type: CreativeWork
description: Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease caused by an intracellular obligate coccidian protozoan called Toxoplasma gondii. The parasite infects all warm blooded animals and usually develops in immune-compromised hosts. The risk groups are pregnant women, children and HIV/AIDS patients. Congenitally infected foetuses and children may develop serious clinical outcomes including psychomotor and ocular disorders. In Tanzania, prevalence studies have shown an increase in the level of infection due to toxoplasmosis in the communities while the information on the level of awareness and practices of pregnant women and health workers in regard to toxoplasmosis has not been established. A cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the awareness and practices towards congenital toxoplasmosis among 371 pregnant women and 22 health workers from six healthcare facilities in Temeke municipality of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A structured questionnaire and review of prenatal screening forms were used to collect information during the study. The questionnaire focused on disease aetiology, signs and symptoms, modes of transmission, treatment and management, the antenatal cards/ the screening forms bearing pregnant women demographics and clinical records were reviewed. Of the pregnant women studied, 96% (95%, C.I 94-98%) were unaware of the diseases, had never heard, read or seen any information regarding toxoplasmosis. Majority of respondents including those who had heard read or seen information concerning toxoplasmosis were unaware of aetiology, signs and symptoms. However, the respondents unknowingly observed preventive practices towards the disease including avoiding eating raw, cured or rare meat 90% (95%, C.I 86–93%). There was a significant statistical relationship between practices towards toxoplasmosis and age of pregnant women, for every increase in age by ten years the practices towards toxoplasmosis increased 1.4 times (OR=1.41, 95%, C.I 1.05-1.90). The odds of risk practice…
abstract: Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease caused by an intracellular obligate coccidian protozoan called Toxoplasma gondii. The parasite infects all warm blooded animals and usually develops in immune-compromised hosts. The risk groups are pregnant women, children and HIV/AIDS patients. Congenitally infected foetuses and children may develop serious clinical outcomes including psychomotor and ocular disorders. In Tanzania, prevalence studies have shown an increase in the level of infection due to toxoplasmosis in the communities while the information on the level of awareness and practices of pregnant women and health workers in regard to toxoplasmosis has not been established. A cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the awareness and practices towards congenital toxoplasmosis among 371 pregnant women and 22 health workers from six healthcare facilities in Temeke municipality of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A structured questionnaire and review of prenatal screening forms were used to collect information during the study. The questionnaire focused on disease aetiology, signs and symptoms, modes of transmission, treatment and management, the antenatal cards/ the screening forms bearing pregnant women demographics and clinical records were reviewed. Of the pregnant women studied, 96% (95%, C.I 94-98%) were unaware of the diseases, had never heard, read or seen any information regarding toxoplasmosis. Majority of respondents including those who had heard read or seen information concerning toxoplasmosis were unaware of aetiology, signs and symptoms. However, the respondents unknowingly observed preventive practices towards the disease including avoiding eating raw, cured or rare meat 90% (95%, C.I 86–93%). There was a significant statistical relationship between practices towards toxoplasmosis and age of pregnant women, for every increase in age by ten years the practices towards toxoplasmosis increased 1.4 times (OR=1.41, 95%, C.I 1.05-1.90). The odds of risk practice…
author: Onduru, Gervas Onduru
language: en
keywords: Congenital toxoplasmosis, Toxoplasmosis
date published: 2016
date modified: 2026-07-27T22:06:21Z
provider: University of Zambia
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Zambia