title: [Evaluation of prenatal screening for toxoplasmosis in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil: a cross-sectional study of postpartum women in two maternity hospitals].
abstract: This cross-sectional study of 420 women in two public maternity hospitals from August 2004 to May 2005 evaluated the application of a prenatal toxoplasmosis serological screening protocol in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, and the information provided to susceptible pregnant women. Ninety-eight percent of women received prenatal care and 97% underwent the initial serological screening test, at an average of 16 weeks gestational age. The initial testing identified 163 women as susceptible to toxoplasmosis: 44% of these did not undergo repeat serological testing, and 42% of them did not remember having received information on the prevention of toxoplasmosis infection. Early prenatal care and a high number of prenatal visits were associated with repeat serological testing and orientation regarding its implications. Orientation on risk factors included: avoiding contact with cats (95%), not handling or eating raw meat (70%), and washing vegetables carefully before consumption (53%). Inadequate adherence to the prenatal screening protocol for toxoplasmosis, as detected in this study, may be generating health system costs without a corresponding improvement in the quality of perinatal care.
authors.affiliation: Centro Geral de Pediatria, Fundação Hospitalar de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil. ericka@horizontes.net
authors.forename: Ericka Viana Machado
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Carellos
authors.forename: Gláucia Manzan Queiroz de
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Regina Amélia Lopes Pessoa de
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Aguiar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D002415:Cats; D003376:Counseling; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000592:standards*; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control