Factors associated to toxoplasmosis-related knowledge among pregnant women attending public health services in the municipality of Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2013-2015.

OBJECTIVE

to analyze the factors associated to toxoplasmosis-related knowledge among pregnant women attending public health services in the municipality of Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

METHODS

this is a cross-sectional study conducted with pregnant women assisted in eight health care units; data was collected using a standardized questionnaire, from April 2013 to February 2015.

RESULTS

among the 405 pregnant women interviewed, 173 (42.7%) knew about toxoplasmosis and, of those, 24.3% knew about it through friends; the proportion of pregnant women with toxoplasmosis-related knowledge increased with age (p<0.001), education level (p<0.001) and the number of pregnancies (p=0.031); the history of abortion was also associated with toxoplasmosis-related knowledge (p=0.019).

CONCLUSION

the variables 'age', 'education level', 'number of pregnancies' and 'abortion history' were important factors for toxoplasmosis-related knowledge among pregnant women assisted in the public health care sector of Niterói.