Knowledge and preventive behavior of toxoplasmosis during pregnancies in Imperatriz (Maranhão, Brazil)

Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii that affects any warm-blooded animal, including humans.

The parasite is eliminated through the feces of felines (the only definitive hosts of Toxoplasma gondi), which is contract by eating infected prey, raw or undercooked meat. Humans usually contract it by eating raw or undercooked meat or contaminated (including poorly washed) vegetables.

For pregnant women, the risk of congenital infection is lowest when maternal infection occurs during the first trimester (10-15%) and highest when infection occurs during the third trimester (60-90%). However, the most severe congenital infection usually occurs during the first trimester.

The following study was conducted to evaluate the knowledge and preventive behavior in relation to toxoplasmosis related to socioeconomic, prenatal, and environmental conditions among pregnant women of the Family Health Strategy (ESF) in the city of Imperatriz (Maranhão, Brazil).

In this cross-sectional study, a structured and previously tested questionnaire was applied to a sample of 239 pregnant women. The average age was 24.4.

The majority of pregnant women (55.6%) claimed to know nothing about toxoplasmosis and only 23.4% were informed about the disease. Those who claimed to have knowledge of it said, “It is a disease caused by cats” (28.3%), “you get it from cat feces” (17.9%), “you get it by eating contaminated food” (5.6%); 64.0% claimed not to have received instructions from health professionals on how to avoid the disease. Among those who received some instruction, 51.2% said they were told to wash fruit and vegetables very well, not to feed cats raw or undercooked meat, not to have any contact with cats or their feces. The problems mentioned were: “mental illness”, “the baby can get infected”, “malformation”, “blindness” and “deficiency”.

In general, the knowledge of respondents in this study was limited, although a considerable number were aware of measures to prevent and avoid toxoplasmosis during pregnancy. Most practiced appropriate preventive behaviors, particularly food hygiene (washing kitchen utensils with hot soap and water after contact with raw meats or unwashed fruits and vegetables). However, non-preventive behaviors were strongly associated with risk factors such as contact with cats, eating raw or undercooked meat, contact with kittens in the home, cleaning up cat feces, or handling kitty litter.

In short, more comprehensive preventive measures are needed, with public health and educational policies that take into account economic, social, environmental and cultural aspects.

da Silva Moura I.P et al. (2019) Toxoplasmosis knowledge and preventive behavior among pregnant women in the city of Imperatriz, Maranhão, Brazil Lugar: Cien Saude Colet
DOI:10.1590/1413-812320182410.21702017