[Prenatal screening for toxoplasmosis and factors associated with seropositivity of pregnant women in Goiânia, Goiás].

PURPOSE

to estimate the prevalence and risk factors associated with seropositivity for Toxoplasma gondii in pregnant women.

METHODS

a cross-sectional retrospective study based on the records of women screened for toxoplasmosis by the Pregnancy Protection Program in 2008, living in Goiânia (GO). These records were connected to records from the database of the National Information System on Live Births from the State of Goiás. The process occurred in three phases, with 10,316 records being paired for analysis, among the 12,846 initial records. The following variables were evaluated in this process: woman's name, age, date of birth, estimated date of delivery, date of infant birth and household information. Anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies were detected with the Q-Preven Toxo IgG and IgMin tests in dried blood samples collected on filter paper. The χ2 test and χ2 test for trend were used for data analysis, and the odds ratio (OR) was used to estimate the chance of association between exposure and outcome.

RESULTS

the prevalence of infection was 67.7%, with 0.7% of the samples presenting anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgM and IgG reagents. Out of these, only three did not undergo confirmatory testing in venous blood. The median interval between the screening and the new collection of venous blood was of 12.5 days, and from screening to confirmatory test and avidity it was of 20 days. The variables associated with exposure were: age 20-30 years, OR=1.6 and ≥31 years, OR=1.8; brown skin color, OR=1.4, and black skin color, OR=1.6; and education of 8-11 years, OR=0.7, and ≥12 years of education, OR=0.6.

CONCLUSION

a high prevalence of infection was estimated among the studied pregnant women. The associated factors that were found found should be considered during prenatal care, along with educational activities for the prevention of infection and assessment of serological status of seronegative pregnant women.