Cross-sectional study to investigate the seroprevalence and risk factors of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> among women attending the antenatal clinic in Namwala, Zambia.

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by <i>Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii)</i>. It has a wide host range and is capable of vertical transmission in pregnant women, which may lead to undesirable pregnancy outcomes such as congenital malformations, miscarriage, premature birth and stillbirth. This study investigated the seroprevalence of <i>T. gondii</i> infection among pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at Namwala District Hospital in Southern Zambia. This was a cross-sectional study where blood was collected, and the serum was tested for <i>Toxoplasma</i> IgG and IgM. A questionnaire was administered to participants on demographic characteristics and risk factors. Data were entered in Microsoft Excel and exported to STATA version 14 for analysis. A total of 401 women were enrolled in the study from 3 March to 5 August 2021. The seroprevalence of <i>Toxoplasma</i> IgG was 4.2% (n=17), while the seroprevalence of <i>Toxoplasma</i> IgM was 0.7% (n=3). The median age was 27 (IQR: 24-30) years, and a larger proportion had primary-level education (n=223, 55.6%). The majority (81.6%) of the women were married. None of the risk factors investigated in this study were significant for <i>T. gondii</i> infection. There was a low seroprevalence of <i>T. gondii</i> infection among pregnant women in the Namwala district of Southern Province, Zambia, and regular screening may not be warranted in this population. Continued research on toxoplasmosis is recommended to understand its epidemiology across Zambia.