Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Toxoplasma Gondii Infection among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care at Logbaba District Hospital: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study
Background: This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors for Toxoplasma. gondii infection in women seeking antenatal and medical care in the Logbaba District Hospital, Littoral Region of Cameroon. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study from January to December 2022 consecutively enrolling 449 consenting pregnant women aged 16 to 51 years attending antenatal care at the hospital. A survey questionnaire was administered to study participants and potential risk factors for Toxoplasma exposure were sought. Venous blood was collected and serum from each participant analysed for T. gondii infection as evidenced by the presence of anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies detected using the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. The proportion of positive to anti-T. gondii antibody was calculated as the percentage of antibody seropositivity to T. gondii antigens. Predictors of T. gondii infection were analysed by univariate and multivariate regression and association with T. gondii seropositivity was assessed. The STATA Pac program was used for statistical analyses. A p < 0.05 was considered significant for all analyses. Results: The prevalence of T. gondii infection among pregnant women at Logbaba district hospital was 76.17% with the prevalence of IgG at 58.6%, IgM 39.0% and the prevalence of IgG and IgM 21.4% by the ELISA technique. Among the risk factors evaluated, abortion, contact with cats, hand wash after cleaning, dog owner, consumption of raw or undercooked meat, consumption of raw milk, consumption of fruit by road site, treatment of water, knowledge of toxoplasmosis, contact with soil, HIV status, level of education, marital status, source of water, waste disposal facility were the major risks factors of T. gondii infection. Conclusions: Our findings suggest recent T. gondii exposure was high in our study population, and may constitute a significant risk factor for stillbirths, abortions or congenital defects during pregnancy in women attending antenatal care, or toxoplasmic encephalitis in those who are immunosuppressed such as those with HIV/AIDS. Education and screening of HIV-positive individuals and pregnant women for T. gondii infection may be important primary prevention strategies in this population.
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