Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in relation to knowledge and practice among pregnant women in Burao city, Somaliland: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract Background Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic infectious disease that can affect a variety of warm-blooded vertebrates, including humans and other warm-blooded domestic and wild animals. Antenatal statistics on this parasitic disease are thought to provide baseline data on the prevalence of T. gondii in pregnant women as well as for the planning and implementation of T. gondii diagnostic, control, and prevention programs. Therefore, this study was aimed to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection and its risk factors among pregnant women attending Maternal, and child health (MCHs) on the emphasis of screening and management of pregnant women in Burao city, Somaliland. Objectives To assess Toxoplasmosis seroprevalence in relation to knowledge and practice among pregnant women in Burao city, Somaliland, 2023. Methods An Institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among all pregnant women attending maternal child health (MCHs) in Burao city. A total of 418 pregnant women attending maternal child health were our study population in Burao city. A systematically random sampling method was used to select from a total of 418 pregnancy women from different maternal child health in Burao city. During this study, the data was collected by 1 nursery and 2 Midwifery, and 1 supervisor supervising the data being collected who can speak the Somali language. As a part of antenatal care screening, all pregnant women were tested for T. gondii immunoglobulins. data was checked for completeness, cleaned, coded, entered and collected using Kobo toolbox software (ODK), and exported to statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 27 for analysis to calculate the odds ratios (OR) and the respective 95% confidence interval for the association between the presence of T. gondii and potential risk factors. Data were analyzed using univariate analysis. We used 5% (p < 0.05) as a level of significance. Result A total of 418 pregnant mothers, with an average age of 31.7 ± 1.191 years, were attended to at the antenatal care clinics. The overall positivity of against T. gondii in the study population was 67 (16%). Only 41.6% of the respondents have heard about the disease Lack of knowledge significantly increased the risk of infection (OR = 0.430, p 0.054). Possible contact with soil in public parks and gardening was reported by 22.2% of the respondents and increased risk of the infection was reported which was found to be related to a statistically significant higher risk of infection (OR = 4.045, p < 0.001). Eating outside the home at restaurants was reported by 50.2% which was found to be related to a statistically significant higher risk of infection (OR = 2.155, p < 0.016). Conclusion This study improved knowledge of T. gondii infection exposure in Burao, Somaliland, as well as the relative significance of numerous risk variables, particularly a lack of understanding which is essential for the development of specific Toxoplasma control strategy.