Knowledge and preventive behaviour among pregnant women with latent toxoplasmosis in Malaysia
Latent toxoplasmosis could induce various hormonal and behavioural perturbations in infected hosts. We aimed to study the latent seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) and the relationship between infection, knowledge and behaviour among 400 pregnant mothers. Plasma samples were teste...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
2020
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| Online Access: | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/16274/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/16274/1/12_ms0416_pdf_19981.pdf |
| _version_ | 1848814010966736896 |
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| author | Ahmad N, Emelia Osman, Abdul Ghani NA, Leong, WY Arzaee MZ, Seow, YY Dol Bahar S, Wan Yahya WNN, Mustapha N, Vadiveel Y, |
| author_facet | Ahmad N, Emelia Osman, Abdul Ghani NA, Leong, WY Arzaee MZ, Seow, YY Dol Bahar S, Wan Yahya WNN, Mustapha N, Vadiveel Y, |
| author_sort | Ahmad N, |
| building | UKM Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Latent toxoplasmosis could induce various hormonal and behavioural
perturbations in infected hosts. We aimed to study the latent seroprevalence of
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) and the relationship between infection, knowledge
and behaviour among 400 pregnant mothers. Plasma samples were tested for the
presence of T. gondii IgG antibodies while a structured questionnaire was used to
record respondents’ socio-demographic characteristics, general information and
knowledge on plausible risk factors, symptoms, timing of infection, and preventive
knowledge and behaviour regarding toxoplasmosis. The seroprevalence of latent
toxoplasmosis among respondents was at 31.8%. This study indicated that 69.5%
of them had poor knowledge of toxoplasmosis but most of them (99.8%) practised
preventive behaviours. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that pregnant
women with low education levels (aOR: 1.91, 95% CI 1.18, 3.10; p = 0.008) and
past medical history (aOR: 2.32, 95% CI 1.32, 4.06; p = 0.003) were both twice as
likely to have anti-T. gondii IgG seropositivity. Besides, women who were unsure
regarding the transmission mode of the disease via blood transfusion were four
times more likely (aOR: 3.93, 95% CI 1.54, 10.01; p = 0.004) to have chronic
toxoplasmosis seroprevalence. Women who were unsure regarding the necessities
of avoiding stray cats had aOR of 0.42 (95% CI 0.24, 0.71, p = 0.001) for chronic
toxoplasmosis seroprevalence. Translating the knowledge on toxoplasmosis into
the practice of preventive behaviour via a health education programme is crucial
in reducing the risk of disease transmission especially among pregnant women. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T00:27:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | oai:generic.eprints.org:16274 |
| institution | Universiti Kebangasaan Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T00:27:18Z |
| publishDate | 2020 |
| publisher | Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | oai:generic.eprints.org:162742021-03-16T01:29:38Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/16274/ Knowledge and preventive behaviour among pregnant women with latent toxoplasmosis in Malaysia Ahmad N, Emelia Osman, Abdul Ghani NA, Leong, WY Arzaee MZ, Seow, YY Dol Bahar S, Wan Yahya WNN, Mustapha N, Vadiveel Y, Latent toxoplasmosis could induce various hormonal and behavioural perturbations in infected hosts. We aimed to study the latent seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) and the relationship between infection, knowledge and behaviour among 400 pregnant mothers. Plasma samples were tested for the presence of T. gondii IgG antibodies while a structured questionnaire was used to record respondents’ socio-demographic characteristics, general information and knowledge on plausible risk factors, symptoms, timing of infection, and preventive knowledge and behaviour regarding toxoplasmosis. The seroprevalence of latent toxoplasmosis among respondents was at 31.8%. This study indicated that 69.5% of them had poor knowledge of toxoplasmosis but most of them (99.8%) practised preventive behaviours. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that pregnant women with low education levels (aOR: 1.91, 95% CI 1.18, 3.10; p = 0.008) and past medical history (aOR: 2.32, 95% CI 1.32, 4.06; p = 0.003) were both twice as likely to have anti-T. gondii IgG seropositivity. Besides, women who were unsure regarding the transmission mode of the disease via blood transfusion were four times more likely (aOR: 3.93, 95% CI 1.54, 10.01; p = 0.004) to have chronic toxoplasmosis seroprevalence. Women who were unsure regarding the necessities of avoiding stray cats had aOR of 0.42 (95% CI 0.24, 0.71, p = 0.001) for chronic toxoplasmosis seroprevalence. Translating the knowledge on toxoplasmosis into the practice of preventive behaviour via a health education programme is crucial in reducing the risk of disease transmission especially among pregnant women. Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2020-12 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://journalarticle.ukm.my/16274/1/12_ms0416_pdf_19981.pdf Ahmad N, and Emelia Osman, and Abdul Ghani NA, and Leong, WY and Arzaee MZ, and Seow, YY and Dol Bahar S, and Wan Yahya WNN, and Mustapha N, and Vadiveel Y, (2020) Knowledge and preventive behaviour among pregnant women with latent toxoplasmosis in Malaysia. Medicine & Health, 15 (2). pp. 108-123. ISSN 2289-5728 https://www.medicineandhealthukm.com/toc/15/2 |
| spellingShingle | Ahmad N, Emelia Osman, Abdul Ghani NA, Leong, WY Arzaee MZ, Seow, YY Dol Bahar S, Wan Yahya WNN, Mustapha N, Vadiveel Y, Knowledge and preventive behaviour among pregnant women with latent toxoplasmosis in Malaysia |
| title | Knowledge and preventive behaviour among pregnant women with latent toxoplasmosis in Malaysia |
| title_full | Knowledge and preventive behaviour among pregnant women with latent toxoplasmosis in Malaysia |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge and preventive behaviour among pregnant women with latent toxoplasmosis in Malaysia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge and preventive behaviour among pregnant women with latent toxoplasmosis in Malaysia |
| title_short | Knowledge and preventive behaviour among pregnant women with latent toxoplasmosis in Malaysia |
| title_sort | knowledge and preventive behaviour among pregnant women with latent toxoplasmosis in malaysia |
| url | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/16274/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/16274/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/16274/1/12_ms0416_pdf_19981.pdf |