PREVALENCE OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN MOGADISHU, SOMALIA: A SINGLE-CENTER STUDY

Background: Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. It is found worldwide, including in Africa, where it is a common parasitic infection. The prevalence of toxoplasmosis in Africa varies widely depending on the region and population. Some studies have found high infection rates in certain areas, such as rural regions with poor sanitation and hygiene, and among people who work with livestock. There is a scarcity of information on toxoplasma gondii infection prevalence in Somalia. This study was conducted to contribute to the scientific knowledge on the prevalence of toxoplasma gondii among pregnant women and variation among different age groups.

Methods and materials: This is a single-centre cross-sectional study design of toxoplasmosis among pregnant women patients seeking healthcare services in Kalkaal Hospital from August 2022 to December 2022. The blood samples were collected from pregnant women patients visiting the Hospital for antenatal purposes. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 25.0. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. The Chi-square test was used to test for associations between categorical variables. The t-test was used to compare the mean age between the two groups.

Results: During the study period, a total number of 299 pregnant women attended various healthcare services. The results of this study indicate a prevalence of (24/299) 8% for IgG Positive. The data analysis results present a study investigating the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among pregnant women in different districts of Somalia. The study found that out of the 299 women who attended various healthcare services, 24 (8%) were positive for IgG, indicating a past infection with the parasite. Grouping according to residence indicates a slightly higher proportion of IgG Positive among rural(9.33%) those living in residence compared to urban those living in residence (8.04%). However, there was no statistically significant evidence of a difference between rural and urban(P=0.443). Overall, the results provide important information about the prevalence of Toxoplasma infection among pregnant women in Somalia, highlighting the importance of identifying high-risk areas for targeted interventions.

In conclusion, handling the health problem of Toxoplasma infection among pregnant women requires routine screening, health education on avoiding undercooked meat, practising good hygiene, and avoiding contact with cat feces.