Associated risk factors of Toxoplasmosis in Pregnant Women attending Antenatal care at Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital, Birnin Kebbi, Northwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis is a common worldwide infection caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. It is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite in animals and humans. Maternal infection with toxoplasmosis throughout pregnancy is frequently associated with vertical transmission to the foetus. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors of toxoplasmosis among pregnant women at Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital, Birnin Kebbi. It was a cross sectional, descriptive study. Serological tests by the indirect Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for IgG was carried out on 340 pregnant women visiting Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital, Birnin Kebbi, Northwestern Nigeria. The overall seroprevalence of Toxoplasma antibodies was 33.3%. 9.7% seropositivity was found among subjects in the first trimester, 60.5% in the second trimester and 29.8% from third trimester. Lack of education, lower age at pregnancy, and frequency of close contacts with cats were significantly associated with the prevalence of IgG antibodies. The strongest risk factors for toxoplasmosis from this study was in people living with cats and domestic pets and women who frequently consumed raw meat.