Toxoplasma gondii among pregnant women attending antenatal care in a district hospital in Ghana.

Abstract

Background: Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease that is asymptomatic in many but can spread through the placenta during pregnancy causing miscarriage, stillbirth, intrauterine death, and neurologic impairments. This study reports on the proportion and risk factors associated with the seropositivity of Toxoplasma gondii among pregnant women visiting the antenatal care unit of the Nkawie-Toase Government Hospital, Ghana.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study among pregnant women attending antenatal care at a district hospital in Ghana. The participants were selected randomly for the study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information and data on possible risk factors associated with toxoplasmosis. Serum samples from the participants were screened for exposure to T. gondii using a commercial ELISA kit. The associations of the risk factors with seropositivity were tested using logistic regression.

Results: There were 84 women who participated in this study. The mean age of the sample was 26.96 ± 5.67 years; 64.29% had basic education, 21.43% were traders and 14.29% were farmers. Forty-seven women (55.95%) tested seropositive for T. gondii, 44 (52.38%) for IgG and 3 (3.57%) for IgM. Women involved as traders (OR 18, 95% CI 2.74-118.39, p = 0.003) and farmers (OR 6.75, 95% CI 1.16-39.20, p = 0.033) had significantly higher risk of testing seropositive.

Conclusion: High proportions of pregnant women in this study were found to be exposed to T. gondii. To prevent negative pregnancy outcomes, pregnant women attending antenatal care be educated and routinely screened for T. gondii infection.