Choices in preventive strategies: experience with the prevention of congenital toxoplasmosis in The Netherlands.

The control congenital toxoplasmosis mainly relies on preventive measures, that can be applied on an individual basis as well as within the scope of a collective preventive programme. Several strategies can be adopted, each with its possibilities and impossibilities: primary prevention (health education), secondary prevention (serological screening) or a combination of primary and secondary prevention. Whatever strategy is chosen, decisions have to be taken with respect to the procedures. This paper lists the choices to be made and their consequences. The debate in international literature on the desirability of preventive programmes is summarized.