Epidemiological factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii infection in postpartum women treated in the public healthcare system of Goiânia, State of Goiás, Brazil
This cross-sectional study comprised 229 postpartum women, among whom 204 were chronically infected (IgG+/IgM-), and 25 were seronegative (IgG-/IgM-; control group). All the patients were asked to complete a form to provide sociodemographic, clinical, dietary, and cultural information. The data were analyzed to compare seropositivity and risk factors based on the odds ratio (OR) thereof.
RESULTS:
The sociodemographic characteristics associated with the risk for toxoplasmosis were education ≤ 8 years [OR 2.521, confidence interval (CI) 1.01-6.301, p=0.049], and age ≥ 30 years (OR 4.090; CI 1.180-14.112, p=0.023). Clinical and behavioral characteristics related to eating raw and undercooked meat, were not found to be risk factors associated with a positive test for toxoplasmosis.
CONCLUSIONS:
Our findings concur with the results of other studies conducted in Brazil and abroad, where variables such as low levels of schooling, and advanced age (≥ 30 years) are major risk factors for pregnant women to become infected with T. gondii.