title: Toxoplasmosis-related knowledge among pregnant and postpartum women attended in public health units in Niterói, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
abstract: The present study conducted a toxoplasmosis-related knowledge level survey with 400 pregnant and puerperal women attended in public health units in the municipality of Niterói, Rio de Janeiro. Only 111 (27.8%) women claimed to know about the disease. Most of them (n = 289; 72.2%) had never heard about toxoplasmosis nor knew how to prevent the infection by Toxoplasma gondii. A significant difference (p = 0.013) regarding the presence of anti-T. gondii IgG was observed between women who claimed to know about the disease and those who had never heard about it. These results highlight the importance of a systematic serological screening process for toxoplasmosis, as well as the importance of primary prevention by accurate information during prenatal care, an important Public Health action to be implemented.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patricia Riddell
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Millar
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda Loureiro de
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Moura
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Otílio Machado Pereira
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Bastos
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Danuza Pinheiro Bastos Garcia de
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Mattos
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Estatística, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Beatriz Monteiro
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adriana Pittella
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Sudré
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leles
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Toxoplasmose, LabTOXO, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz -Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Regina Reis
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Amendoeira
mesh_terms: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G