title: Knowledge and practice on Toxoplasma infection in pregnant women from Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand.
abstract: Toxoplasma gondii, is one of the infectious agents of congenital TORCH infections, causes severe clinical outcomes in fetus and newborns. Nevertheless this life-threatening parasitic disease is preventable by simple preventive measures related to lifestyle during pregnancy. We aim to study on the knowledge about toxoplasmosis and practices that prevents this infection among the pregnant women. Total of 2598 pregnant women from Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand were randomly surveyed to determine the knowledge and their practices on Toxoplasma infection. The questionnaire covered respondents' general information and knowledge on plausible risks factors, symptoms, timing of infection, prevention knowledge, and preventive behavior regarding Toxoplasma infection. Majority of these pregnant women were in their age group of 20-29 years (50.9%), completed secondary level of education (51.7%), in their second trimester of pregnancies (38.1%), non-parous (36.6%), and had no history of abortion (90.4%). Based on this survey, only 11% of these pregnant women had read, heard, or seen information regarding toxoplasmosis and 3.5% of them were aware of being tested for the infection. A small percentage of these pregnant women knew that T. gondii were shed in the feces of infected cats (19.4%) and sometimes found in the raw or undercooked meat (11.0%). There was 16.1% of responding women knew that toxoplasmosis is caused by an infection. Demographic profiles such as age group, level of education, pregnancy term, and number of children of the pregnant women showed significant association with their responses toward prevention knowledge and preventive behavior related questions (P < 0.05). Thus, it is suggested that health education on toxoplasmosis and primary behavioral practices should be consistently offered to reproductive age women in general and pregnant women in particular. This information could help to reduce vertical transmission of Toxoplasma infection during pregnancy.
authors: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Hemah
authors: H
authors: Andiappan
authors: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Veeranoot
authors: V
authors: Nissapatorn
authors: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand.
authors: Nongyao
authors: N
authors: Sawangjaroen
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Si-Lay
authors: SL
authors: Khaing
authors: Biological Sciences Department, De La Salle University - Dasmariñas Cavite, Philippines.
authors: Cristina C
authors: CC
authors: Salibay
authors: College of Arts and Sciences, Notre Dame of Dadiangas University General Santos, Philippines.
authors: Mary Mae M
authors: MM
authors: Cheung
authors: School of Science and Technology, Centro Escolar University Manila, Philippines.
authors: Julieta Z
authors: JZ
authors: Dungca
authors: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand.
authors: Waenurama
authors: W
authors: Chemoh
authors: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Ching
authors: C
authors: Xiao Teng
authors: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Yee-Ling
authors: YL
authors: Lau
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Noor A
authors: NA
authors: Mat Adenan
keywords: Malaysia; Philippines; Thailand; knowledge; practice; pregnant women; toxoplasmosis