| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2019 | Volume
: 12
| Issue : 2 | Page : 87-90 |
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Observational study to assess pregnant women’s knowledge and behaviour related to toxoplasmosis in Essaouira province, Morocco
Nadia Ouzennou1, Samia Boussaa2, Safa Ben Alla3, Ali Boumezzough3
1 ISPITS-Higher Institute of Nursing and Health Technology, Marrakech, Morocco
2 ISPITS-Higher Institute of Nursing and Health Technology; Ecology and the Environment Laboratory L2E (URAC 32, CNRST ERACNERS 06), Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco
3 Ecology and the Environment Laboratory L2E (URAC 32, CNRST ERACNERS 06), Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco
Correspondence Address:
Samia Boussaa
ISPITS-Higher Institute of Nursing and Health Technology, Marrakech
Morocco
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | 3 |
DOI: 10.4103/1995-7645.250842
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Objective: To assess knowledge and behaviour related to toxoplasmosis which remains a neglected disease in Morocco. Methods: Observational investigations were conducted among 600 pregnant women from Essaouira Province. The interview items covered respondents’ knowledge of the disease, its preventive practices and risk behaviours. Results: A total of 22/600 women had already carried out the anti-toxoplasmosis test, while, 96% have never done any screening of anti- Toxoplasma antibodies. Only 16/600 women have good information about the disease, its mode of transmission and its complications in both the fetus and his mother. Although most women adopt a healthy diet, the consumption of raw or undercooked meat is far to be considered as a risk factor, along with other potential factors that may foster the acquisition of the disease, such as possessing a domestic cat, educational status and knowledge of the disease. However, in this study, contact with soil was revealed the most important risk factor (P = 0.045), followed by the hygiene conditions after handling raw meat (P = 0.048). Conclusion: The underestimation of the Toxoplasma gondii sero-prevalence in Essaouira Province can be explained by the absence of toxoplasmosis serology in health institutions, as well as the gap of knowledge about the disease by local population.
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