Study on the Association between SocioDemographic Parameters and Seroprevalence of Toxoplasmosis among Women of Reproductive Age

Abstract Toxoplasmosis is an important but neglected tropical parasitic infection with global distribution and significance. It is caused by the protozoa called Toxoplasma gondii and about a third of the world's human population is estimated to harbor this parasite. This study determined the association between socio-demographic factors and seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among women of reproductive age using ELISA technique in Port Harcourt. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conduct with Four hundred and fifty (450) women of reproductive age classified into the following groups; 150 HIV patients (HP), 100 Pregnant women (PTW), 100 Outpatients (OP) and 100 Healthy controls (HC). Their blood samples were collected and tested for IgM and IgG toxoplasma antibodies using conventional ELISA technique after ethical clearance and informed/written consent were obtained. Socio-demographic data (age, occupation and educational status) were collected using well-structured questionnaires. Out of 450 subjects examined, 162(36%) and 206(45.8%) were positive for IgM and IgG toxoplasma antibodies respectively. HIV patients recorded the highest seroprevalence of 76(50.7%) and 72(48%) and pregnant women recorded the least seroprevalence of 23(23%) and 36(36%) for toxoplasma IgM and IgG antibodies respectively. There was a significant relationship (p<0.05) between age groups and seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis for IgG antibodies. Similarly, there was a significant relationship (p<0.05) between occupation and seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis for IgG antibodies. For both age and occupation, there was no association (p>0.05) with seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis for IgM. Also, there was no significant (p>0.05) association between education and seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in both IgM and IgG laboratory assays. The study has not only demonstrated that seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis is high among the studied groups in the population but has also demonstrated that there is age and occupation based relationship with toxoplasmosis