PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS OF TOXOPLASMOSIS AMONG WOMEN IN PARACHINAR DISTRICT KURRAM, KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii, primarily affects warm-blooded animals, including humans. Cats are definitive hosts. It's zoonotic with public health concerns, linked to mental, behavioral, and physiological changes, and adverse pregnancy outcomes like premature births, miscarriages, stillbirths, and fetal abnormalities. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and associated risk factors of toxoplasmosis among pregnant women in Parachinar. Data was collected using a pre-designed questionnaire, and blood samples were collected and tested for the detection of anti-T. gondii IgM and IgG antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The current study was conducted to assess the prevalence and associated risk factors of toxoplasmosis among pregnant women in Parachinar, involving a sample of 460 participants. The statistical tests were applied to the data of the different categories by using STATA (V.13). The p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. In the study, toxoplasmosis was found in 23% of pregnant women. The age group 29 to 38 had the highest cases, but this wasn't statistically significant. Significant risk factors included living in rural areas (82.9%), being illiterate (35.2%), and working as a housewife (67.6%). Blood type O had a prevalence of 35.2%. The first trimester had the highest incidence at 38.1%, but no significant associations. Drinking tap water (70.5%) and having cats and dogs (65.7%) increased the risk. Activities like disposing of cat litter (42.9%), handling manure (61%), cattle rearing (39.1%), and consuming uncooked/raw meat (38.1%) didn't show significant associations, but beef consumption (47.6%) was a risk factor. Raw vegetables and fruits (77.1%) and milk (61%) were associated with toxoplasmosis, but not statistically significantly. Gardening soil contact had a prevalence of 75.2%.

This study highlights a high prevalence of toxoplasmosis in Parachinar among pregnant women. Significant factors include habitat, education, pets, beef consumption, and soil contact, emphasizing the importance of public health interventions for pregnant women.