title: Risk factors for Toxoplasma infection in pregnant women in FYR of Macedonia.
abstract: The aim of the study was to identify risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnant women in FYR of Macedonia. Retrospective analysis of serological and epidemiological data in a series of 235 pregnant women from Macedonia, tested for Toxoplasma infection between January 2004 and December 2005, showed an overall prevalence of infection of 20.4%. Exposure to transmission factors significantly increased the risk of infection (RR = 1.989, 95 % CI = 1.041-3.800, p = 0.037). The single infection transmission factor that was a predictor of infection in the whole series was exposure to soil (RR = 1.946, 95% CI = 1.026-3.692, p = 0.041). Based on prevalence and the established risk factors for Toxoplasma infection in Macedonia, the health education programme as a sustainable measure for the prevention of congenital toxoplasmosis should focus on educating women of generative age to avoid contact with soil (farming, gardening), and/to adhere to strict hygienic practices afterwards.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medicine, University "Sts Cyril and Methodius", Skopje, FYR of Macedonia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cvetković
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bobić
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jankovska
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Klun
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Panovski
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Djurković-Djaković
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D004522:Educational Status; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014125:Toxoplasmosis, Congenital / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult