Epidemiological factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii infection in postpartum women treated in the public healthcare system of Goiânia, State of Goiás, Brazil

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Knowledge of the epidemiological profile and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection among postpartum women is a relevant issue, because this protozoan can be vertically transmitted to the developing fetus, which can cause severe and debilitating disease. The aim of this...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
Main Authors: Juliana Boaventura Avelar, Marcos Gontijo da Silva, Hanstter Hallison Alves Rezende, Heloisa Ribeiro Storchilo, Waldemar Naves do Amaral, Isolina Rodrigues Xavier, Mariza Martins Avelino, Ana Maria de Castro
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT)
Subjects:
Toxoplasma gondii
Postpartum women
Diagnosis
Risk factors
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine
RC955-962
Arctic
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0112-2017
https://doaj.org/article/675a9e2877ff4176a7a94adea37e1a55
Description
Summary:Abstract INTRODUCTION: Knowledge of the epidemiological profile and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection among postpartum women is a relevant issue, because this protozoan can be vertically transmitted to the developing fetus, which can cause severe and debilitating disease. The aim of this study was to assess the risk factors associated with T. gondii infection in postpartum women in Goiânia, GO, Brazil. METHODS: This cross-sectional study comprised 229 postpartum women, among whom 204 were chronically infected (IgG+/IgM-), and 25 were seronegative (IgG-/IgM-; control group). All the patients were asked to complete a form to provide sociodemographic, clinical, dietary, and cultural information. The data were analyzed to compare seropositivity and risk factors based on the odds ratio (OR) thereof. RESULTS: The sociodemographic characteristics associated with the risk for toxoplasmosis were: education ≤ 8 years [OR: 2.521, confidence interval (CI): 1.01-6.301, p=0.049], and age ≥ 30 years (OR: 4.090; CI: 1.180-14.112, p=0.023). Clinical and behavioral characteristics related to eating raw and undercooked meat, were not found to be risk factors associated with a positive test for toxoplasmosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings concur with the results of other studies conducted in Brazil and abroad, where variables such as low levels of schooling, and advanced age (≥ 30 years) are major risk factors for pregnant women to become infected with T. gondii.

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