Abstract Objectives To determine the prevalence of schistosomiasis and identify risk factors that influence disease transmission in endemic communities in the state of Sergipe. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Patioba and Colônia Miranda communities, located in the municipalities of Japaratuba and São Cristóvão, respectively. An epidemiological and parasitological survey of schistosomiasis was conducted using a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Kato-Katz method. Pearson’s Chi-squared test and correlation coefficients were used to determine associations between categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Prevalence ratio (PR), odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) measured the strength of associations. Results A total of 721 participants were included in the study. Schistosomiasis prevalence was 33.6% (118/351) in Patioba and 25.7% (95/370) in Colônia Miranda. The male sex (n=62, 52.5%; p-value 0.008), low level of education (n=65, 55.1%; p-value 0.034), fishing activities (PR 1.69; 95%CI 1.35; 2.11; p-value 0.002) and bathing/personal hygiene in freshwater (PR 1.48; 95%CI 1.17; 1.87; p-value 0.027) were associated with infection. Being of the male sex was also a predictor of infection (OR 1.41; 95%CI 1.01; 1.96; p-value 0.040), as was contact with freshwater (OR 0.40; 95%CI 0.28; 0.58; p-value<0.001). Conclusions Patioba and Colônia Miranda have high schistosomiasis prevalence, as well as Schistosoma mansoni infection risk factors that vary between the two communities studied.

Ten-year working life sequences in women and men following sickness absence due to common mental disorders: A Swedish prospective cohort study.

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health problem in Honduras, particularly in urban areas such as Tegucigalpa. Identifying clinical and epidemiological patterns helps guide control strategies. Objective: To describe the sociodemographic, clinical, and treatment outcome characteristics of patients diagnosed with TB in Tegucigalpa between 2022 and 2024. Methods: A descriptive, retrospective study was conducted with 165 patients diagnosed with TB. Data on sociodemographics, medical history, diagnostic methods, type of TB, treatment regimen, and discharge condition were collected. Analysis was performed using frequencies and percentages. Results: Males accounted for 61.2% of patients. Unemployed individuals represented 15.8%, prisoners 14.5%, and housewives 8.5%. A total of 14.5% had completed preschool education, and another 14.5% had no formal education. The most common comorbidity was diabetes mellitus (11.5%), followed by diabetes mellitus/hypertension (8.5%). The most frequent diagnostic method was smear microscopy (80.6%). Pulmonary TB accounted for 97.6% of cases. Basic treatment was administered to 96.4% of patients. Cure rate was 84.8%, with 3.6% relapses and 1.8% deaths. Conclusion: Most TB cases in Tegucigalpa occurred in adult men with low education levels and chronic comorbidities such as diabetes. Diagnosis was mainly through smear microscopy, with a high cure rate, though challenges remain in relapse monitoring and prevention in vulnerable populations.

The parental self-efficacy to respond to school refusal scale: Development and validation.

This study aims to examine the sociodemographic characteristics, dietary habits, and adequacy of nutritional intake among healthy individuals with varying cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. CVD risk was determined using the Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) and Systemic Coronary Risk Assessment (SCORE) systems, and the extent of nutrient intake was assessed using food consumption records. SCORE and ASCVD scores were lower among women and among individuals with higher levels of education and income (p < 0.05). Those who did not frequently consume sugary foods or desserts were more evenly distributed across the lower CVD risk categories in the ASCVD and SCORE classifications (p<0.05). Individuals in the low-risk group used olive oil more often than those in the high-risk group (p<0.05), and those who did not frequently consume fatty or fried foods were more often in the low-to-medium risk categories than those who did (p<0.05). It was observed that individuals classified as high on the SCORE had higher rates of meeting requirements for carbohydrates, sodium, iron, phosphorus, folate, and vitamin B12 than those classified as low or medium (p<0.05). Furthermore, individuals in the high ASCVD class had higher rates of meeting iron and carbohydrate requirements than those in the low ASCVD class (p < 0.05). In conclusion, it was found that males, individuals with lower education levels and socioeconomic status, those consuming sugary and fatty foods more frequently, and those using less olive oil had higher CVD risk.

Short-term outcomes following gastrectomy for adenocarcinoma: Assessing the role of social determinants of health.

SUMMARY Objectives To assess the value of National Metabolic Management Centers (MMC) specialized online tools, for the maintenance of metabolic control among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Patients This retrospective study enrolled T2DM patients from 10 MMCs (June 2017–April 2021) and divided into non- and application of online tools (non-AOT and AOT) groups. Measurements Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance the characteristics of patients between groups. The effect of online tools was evaluated by the change in HbA1c, with additional stratified analyses in subgroups. Results After PSM, 12528 patients with T2DM were followed for a median of 15.88 (7.10, 24.27) months, the AOT group demonstrated better control of HbA1c (−0.90 [−2.60, 0.00] % vs. −0.70 [−2.20, 0.10] %, p < 0.0001), and a greater reduction in body mass index (−0.34 ± 1.68 kg/m2 vs. −0.13 ± 1.55 kg/m2, p < 0.0001) and Visceral fat area (VFA) (−5.33 ± 30.95 cm2 vs. −3.97 ± 26.11 cm2, p = 0.009), compared to the non-AOT group, and the high-frequency AOT group achieved a more significant HbA1c reduction than the low-frequency AOT group (−1.50 [−3.60, −0.30] % vs. −0.80 [−2.38, 0.10] %, p < 0.0001) and a greater reduction in VFA (−7.07 ± 30.32 cm2 vs. −4.90 ± 31.10 cm2, p = 0.010) after adjustment. Stratification analyses revealed greater HbA1c reductions in those with younger age, lower education level or poor HbA1c control at baseline. Conclusions MMC online tools significantly improve metabolic outcomes, particularly for T2DM patients with younger age, lower education levels or poor baseline HbA1c control. They offer a scalable and effective model for out-of-hospital diabetes care.

Mental health deterioration has been previously linked to domestic violence against women, and we wanted to study the factors associated with domestic violence against women during the latter half of the pandemic in Honduras. An Analytical and retrospective cross-sectional study, in which the primary variable was derived from the question, ‘Have you experienced domestic violence in the past 6 months?’, with respondents selecting possible types of violence. Of the 8442 Hondurans surveyed, 4.2% (352) perceived verbal violence, 1.9% (165) physical violence, and 1.3% (113) psychological violence. In the multivariate analysis, it was found that females (p = 0.001), those with a history of alcohol (p = 0.002) or drug use (p = 0.015), prior mental health conditions (p < 0.001), mild (p < 0.001), moderate (p < 0.001) or severe (p = 0.025) depression (p < 0.001) were more likely to have experienced domestic violence. In contrast, higher economic income (all p-values were <0.029) and being single (p = 0.003) or married (p < 0.001) are associated with less perception of domestic violence. Important factors are associated with suffering domestic violence in women: social factors and a history of mental illness, as well as alcohol and drug use in the home. In Honduras, women are particularly vulnerable to domestic violence due to inequality of opportunities, extreme poverty, and low levels of education.

Background: In Dimong Village, Madiun Regency, East Java, Indonesia, showed a hypertension prevalence of 40%, higher than the national. Passive smoking is a risk factor for hypertension, and 41.7% suffer from hypertension. However, sometimes passive smokers have lower resting blood pressure. What is the relationship between passive smoking status and the incidence of hypertension? This study aims to determine the relationship between the two. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Dimong Village. A total of 94 individuals aged 18 years and over were selected as respondents using simple random sampling and met the sample criteria. The study variables consisted of passive smoking and hypertension. In addition to blood pressure measurements using a digital sphygmomanometer, respondents were also interviewed to determine whether their status as passive smokers was related to their hypertension using a questionnaire. The data obtained were then analyzed using a chi-square test to determine the relationship between the two variables. Results: The incidence of passive smoking remains high (81.91%), particularly among those aged 61-70, women, those with low levels of education, and those who are unemployed (housewives). Similarly, the incidence of hypertension remains high (52.12%), with similar characteristics, but is more prevalent among those who have graduated from high school or its equivalent. The probability value of the association between passive smoking and hypertension is 0.162. Conclusion: Passive smoking is not associated with hypertension. Similar research is needed, taking into account the distribution of passive smoking and the more varied incidence of hypertension.

Background: Women in border areas often face barriers to healthcare access due to geographic, informational and cultural factors. However, limited evidence exists on how these challenges affect their health-seeking behaviour. Objectives: This study aims to address this gap by exploring maternal health-seeking behaviour during pregnancy, delivery and postpartum among women on the Thai-Myanmar border, Tak Province, Thailand. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted from October 2023 to November 2024 among 362 women selected through simple random sampling. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with health-seeking behaviour utilization. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among the 362 respondents, 25.1% (95% CI: 20.92-29.88) exhibited low maternal healthcare-seeking behaviour. Multivariable analysis identified several significant predictors of low health-seeking behaviour: low education level (AOR = 2.46, 95% CI: 1.34-4.52), poor knowledge of maternal health (AOR = 11.46, 95% CI: 6.16-21.30), lack of decision-making autonomy (AOR = 2.77, 95% CI: 1.48-5.16), poor social support (AOR = 2.87, 95% CI: 1.27-6.49), travel time of more than one hour to a health facility (AOR = 2.48, 95% CI: 1.08-5.66) and inability to afford medical services (AOR = 2.86, 95% CI: 1.33-6.15). Conclusion: A substantial proportion of women demonstrated low maternal healthcare-seeking behaviour influenced by educational, informational, socioeconomic and accessibility factors. Interventions aimed at enhancing maternal health knowledge, empowering women in decision-making, strengthening family support systems, and reducing both financial and geographic barriers are critical for improving maternal health service utilization in this population.

This study examines women’s participation in decision-making and land use in vegetable farming in Chitwan, Nepal. Primary data were collected from 100 randomly selected female vegetable farmers through household surveys using a semi-structured interview schedule. Descriptive statistics, primarily frequency distribution, were used for data analysis. Results indicate that women contribute significantly across almost all stages of vegetable production; however, their decision-making autonomy is constrained in critical areas such as crop planning, leasing, and land allocation, where male or joint authority remains dominant. Although 41% of respondents independently managed household income and 29% made decisions regarding rented land, only 18% possessed legal land titles. Barriers to greater participation included low levels of education, limited access to agricultural information, inadequate land rights, and heavy time burdens. Only 36% of women had received agricultural training, mostly through cooperatives. Despite these challenges, 83% expressed willingness to remain involved in land-use decisions, largely due to family welfare, farming expertise, and financial necessity. Furthermore, 79% of respondents lacked awareness of available support programs, underscoring gaps in institutional outreach. The findings reveal persistent structural inequalities in women’s formal authority and emphasize the need for policies promoting equitable access to resources, training, and legal land rights.

This article synthesises the state of knowledge about Polish seniors’ health literacy (HL) and identifies key socio-demographic and health-related factors influencing HL. A scoping review was conducted following a six-step process and applying the PRISMA framework for article selection. HL was conceptualised as a multidimensional construct, including functional, communicative, and critical levels, and its significance for patient empowerment and healthcare delivery was highlighted. The review results confirm that health literacy among Polish seniors is generally inadequate and shaped by variables such as age, education, place of residence, and access to health information. These findings underscore a significant research gap, particularly in studies assessing HL’s functional, communicative, and critical levels. They also point to the need for initiatives and programmes targeting seniors in rural areas and those with lower levels of education to improve their health literacy and support healthy ageing.

ObjectiveThis study sought to identify knee osteoarthritis (KOA) contributing factors and develop a preliminary forecasting model for its development.MethodsParticipants were systematically invited to complete an exhaustive medical questionnaire designed to capture relevant health and demographic information. Following data collection, univariate analyses were conducted to assess the significance of the variables obtained from the questionnaire. To delineate the association between identified risk factors and the occurrence of KOA, a binary logistic regression model was utilized. The reliability of the model was evaluated through internal validation, encompassing both calibration and discrimination analyses. Calibration was quantified using the Hosmer–Lemeshow χ² statistic to assess the model’s goodness of fit, while discrimination was gauged utilizing the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, providing a comprehensive evaluation of the model’s predictive accuracy.ResultsIn the present study, a total of 445 cases were analyzed, with 266 cases employed for model development and 179 cases reserved for internal validation. Univariate analysis revealed significant statistical differences between the two groups with respect to several variables, including family history of KOA, heating methods, stair usage, anxiety and depression, toilet type, and the frequency of consumption of vegetables, fruits, red meat, and dairy products. Binary logistic regression analysis identified advanced age, lower educational level, use of a squat toilet, family history of KOA, and psychological conditions such as anxiety and depression as significant risk factors for the development of KOA. Furthermore, a moderate predictive value was observed for incident KOA based on a combination of factors, including age, gender, weight, height, family history of KOA, toilet type, mode of transportation, dairy product consumption, and emotional state.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that, in addition to established risk factors such as age, gender, height, and weight, lifestyle and dietary habits also play a pivotal role in the etiology of KOA. These factors not only serve as potential risk markers but also exhibit predictive utility for the onset of KOA, suggesting a comprehensive approach to prevention and intervention strategies.

Abortion stigma varies across sociocultural contexts and is shaped by factors such as education, socioeconomic status, religious beliefs, and gender norms. Data were collected through face-to-face surveys with 384 adults (aged 18-65) attending family health centers in three central districts of a metropolitan city in Türkiye. Inclusion criteria were being between 18 and 65 years old and providing informed consent. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire that included the abortion stigma scale and sociodemographic variables. Parametric tests (t-tests, ANOVA, and chi-square tests) were applied to examine group differences and associations. Findings indicate that abortion stigma was higher among individuals with lower levels of education and socioeconomic status, as well as those from conservative or religious backgrounds. Additionally, participants with more children reported higher levels of stigma. These results highlight the importance of accessible reproductive health services and implementing educational efforts to reduce stigma, particularly in conservative settings.

BackgroundNormative references for neuropsychological tests commonly adjust for years of education. However, quality of formal education varies widely, and additional education may be obtained outside of the classroom setting. Therefore, years of education may inadequately reflect full educational achievement. Grade‐equivalency scores from tests of single‐word reading provide additional information about learning experience and may alter interpretation of test results (Manly et al., 2002). Therefore, we explored the impact of adjusting cognitive test results for years of education vs. estimated grade equivalency in Spanish‐speaking U.S. Latinos.Method140 Spanish‐speaking Latinos with subjective cognitive decline were referred by a community‐based neurologist for objective cognitive testing. Participants were aged 47‐88 (M=70.6, SD=8.0) with an average of 9.1 self‐reported years of education (SD=4.5, range=0‐20). Participants completed a cognitive screening battery using tests from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center Uniform Data Set Neuropsychological Battery (UDS3‐NB). The Woodcock‐Muñoz Letter‐Word Identification Test was used to estimate grade‐equivalency. Standardized scores (Z‐scores) that adjusted for age, sex, language of testing, and either self‐reported years of education or Woodcock‐Muñoz grade‐equivalency were obtained for each cognitive test using the UDS3‐NB Latino Norms Calculator (Marquine et al.,2023). The two sets of Z‐scores were compared using paired samples t‐tests.ResultsGrade equivalency estimated by the Woodcock‐Muñoz (M=13.5, SD=4.6; range=1.7‐18) was significantly higher than self‐reported years of education (M=9.1, SD=4.5; t [139]=10.9, p < .001). Figure 1 shows the distribution of the discrepancy between grade equivalency and self‐reported educational attainment. For all neuropsychological tests, adjusted Z‐scores derived using grade equivalency were significantly lower than those derived using years of education (see Table 1). The percentage of participants who fell below z‐score cutoffs of ‐1, ‐1.5, or ‐2 was greater when adjusting for grade‐equivalency than when adjusting for years of education (Table 2).ConclusionsEducation‐adjusted norms appeared to underestimate level of impairment in Spanish‐speaking U.S. Latinos who presented to a neurologist with cognitive complaints. Self‐reported years of education may not adequately reflect the educational experiences of this diverse group. Although additional validation is needed, these results indicate caution is warranted when interpreting education‐adjusted test scores for Spanish‐speaking U.S. Latinos with lower levels of education.

BackgroundHigh Performing Older Adults (HPOA) are older individuals with above‐average cognitive abilities, indicating resilience to age‐related pathological processes. Here, we compare HPOA with typical agers, regarding modifiable risk factors of dementia.MethodOlder adults were selected from the ELSI‐Brazil dataset (first wave, 2015‐2016). Cognitive and demographic data was collected for this study. A global cognitive composite z‐score was calculated using orientation (spatial and temporal), memory (immediate and delayed‐recall) and semantic fluency scores. Each score was z‐transformed according to the sample's mean and standard deviation (SD). HPOA was defined as individuals with cognitive z‐scores above 1.5 SD. Typical older adults (TOA) were within ‐1.5 and +1.5 SD from the mean. Thirteen modifiable risk factors were retrieved according to the Lancet Commission: lower levels of education, hearing impairment, high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, depression, high LDL cholesterol, physical inactivity, diabetes, excessive alcohol consumption, air pollution, social isolation, and visual impairment.ResultAmong 9412 individuals from the cohort, 5432 (57.7%) were classified as TOA and 497 were classified as HPOA (Tab. 1). Regarding demographic characteristics, HPOA had a higher educational level (Tab. 1, p < 0.001). HPOA showed significantly lower prevalence of lower education, hearing loss, physical inactivity and visual loss (Tab. 2, p < 0.001). Contrarily, HPOA had a higher prevalence than typical agers of alcohol abuse and hypertension (Tab. 2, p <0.001). There were no significant differences in depression, smoking, diabetes, obesity, and high LDL cholesterol between the groups. Logistic regression models identified that risk factors such as low education (beta = ‐1.8, p <0.001), physical inactivity (beta = ‐0.6, p < 0.001), and visual loss (beta = ‐0.4, p = 0.002) were negatively associated with HPOA. Obesity was positively associated with HPOA (beta = 0.31, p = 0.03).ConclusionLow education, physical inactivity and visual loss were inversely associated with HPOA. Contrary to expected, the absence of modifiable risk factors of dementia was not proven to be associated with high cognitive abilities. Studying the influence of protective factors in successful aging is essential to underscore their importance in high cognitive performance.

Background: This study aimed to obtain data on sexual behavior preferences, concerns regarding sexual activity, and the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in pregnant women, as well as to identify factors associated with sexual dysfunction. Materials and Methods: Our study was conducted in a face-to-face questionnaire format with volunteers aged 18 to 50 years, whose pregnancy follow-up was performed in a training and research hospital. The questionnaire consisted of a personal information form, detailed information about sexual activity, "Female Sexual Function Scale (FSFI)”, and “Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale-12”. Results: The FSFI score of the participants was 17.32±8.15 (mean ± standard deviation). In 224 of the pregnant women (87.79%), the FSFI score was lower than the cut-off value of 26.5 for sexual dysfunction. 118 (46.5%) of the pregnant women indicated that they had concerns about sexual intercourse during pregnancy. The most important reason for concern (48.4%) was the thought that it would adversely affect her own or the baby's health. Low level of education, number of births, and concerns about sexual activity during pregnancy were found to be associated with low FSFI. It was observed that 173 participants (68.11%) scored above the threshold value on IUS-12. There is no relationship between IUS-12 and FSFI scale scores. Conclusion: Our study found that sexual desire decreases during pregnancy, and concerns related to sexual activity are common, most frequently associated with the health of the mother and the baby. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction among pregnant women was found to be high; lower educational level, higher parity, and concerns about sexual activity during pregnancy were associated with this dysfunction. Although a considerable proportion of participants exhibited intolerance of uncertainty, no significant relationship was found between intolerance of uncertainty and sexual dysfunction. These findings highlight the need for further research to better understand the psychological, social, cultural, and other factors influencing sexual health during pregnancy.

BackgroundDetecting cognitive decline presents a significant challenge for researchers and clinicians, particularly in older adults with low educational levels or different sociocultural characteristics. Additionally, traditional normative data may under‐ or overestimate preliminary diagnoses in these populations, due its non‐use of measures which impact cognitive performance as years of schooling or age. This study aimed to validate and standardize the Brain Health Assessment Tablet‐Based Cognitive Assessment Tool (BHA‐TabCAT) among Andean Peruvian older adults.MethodA total of 258 participants between the ages of 54 and 91 were assessed with BHA‐TabCAT, the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Rowland Universal (RUDAS). Participants were evaluated in the rural district of Pampacolca, and in the urban district of Arequipa, both located in the Andean city of Arequipa ‐ Peru. All participants were assigned a clinical diagnosis group (cognitively health or mild cognitive impairment). We used regression‐based norming procedures, including sex, place of residence, age and years of schooling as covariates. We followed the recommendations of Tsoy et al. (2021).ResultInitially, the BHA‐CS's analysis was performed considering weighted scores of significant and non‐significant sociodemographic predictors. AUC captures the 75.3% of positive cases, against the MMSE (Specificity = 81.7%, Sensitivity = 48.6%, Accuracy = 72.5%, AUC = 66.4%) and RUDAS (Specificity = 76.3%, Sensitivity = 62.5%, Accuracy = 72.5% AUC = 71.4%). A second analysis was conducted using only the weighted scores of significant sociodemographic predictors. AUC of the BHA‐CS captures 77.4% of the positive cases against the MMSE (Specificity = 77.4%, Sensitivity = 52.8%, Accuracy = 70.5%, AUC = 66.6%) and RUDAS (Specificity = 75.3%, Sensitivity = 66.7% Accuracy = 72.9%, AUC = 71.9%).ConclusionThe BHA‐TabCAT shows better performance than the MMSE and RUDAS in detecting cognitive decline, especially when its scoring and interpretation consider relevant covariates such as years of education, age, place of residence, and gender. This provides improved opportunities to accurately identify the preclinical and prodromal stages of cognitive decline in both urban and rural contexts in Peru.

Introduction Access to maternity care services from qualified health care professionals during pregnancy, labor, and the postnatal period is crucial for the survival and health of the mother and baby. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with maternal continuum of care completion in Myanmar. Methods This study used secondary data from the 2015-2016 Myanmar Demographic and Health Survey. The study included 1455 women aged &lt; 2 years. Bivariate analysis was conducted using one-way ANOVA and chi-square test of independence to explore the unadjusted association between the dependent variable and each independent variable. Multivariable analysis was conducted with ordinal logistic regression to explore the factors associated with the maternity continuum of care completion. Statistical significance was set at p &lt; 0.05. Results The prevalence of complete maternity continuum of care was 55.2% (n = 803), partial maternity continuum of care was 31.9% (n = 464), and no maternity continuum of care was 12.9% (n = 188) respectively. After adjusting for covariates, maternal education, region, place of residence, total parity, husband’s education, husband’s occupation, money needed for treatment, timing of first antenatal check, tetanus injection, blood pressure, urine sample taken, blood sample taken, given or bought iron tablets/syrup, and drugs for intestinal parasites during pregnancy were significantly associated with maternal continuum of care. Conclusion The prevalence of a complete maternity continuum of care in Myanmar was suboptimal. Important factors include maternal education, urban residency, region, total parity, husbands’ education, and occupation. Improving outcomes in the area requires addressing obstacles such as financial limitations, access to quality health services, and distance. Improving access to maternal healthcare services should be the main goal of policy initiatives, especially for rural areas, lower education levels, and low-income families.

Background: Gestational toxoplasmosis when transmitted from a mother to her child leads to miscarriages, preterm labour, and intrauterine fetal death. For babies who survive intrauterine life congenital toxoplasmosis is characterized by hydrocephalus, microcephaly, seizures, learning difficulties and mental retardation. Aim and Objectives: To determine the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in pregnant women, associated risk factors, neonatal outcomes and the risk of vertical transmission. Methodology: A prospective cross-sectional study of 179 pregnant women, 28 weeks and above, who had antenatal care and delivery at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital was conducted. The women were tested for Toxoplasma gondii IgG and IgM antibodies at delivery after relevant data was collected with a semi structured questionnaire during the antenatal period. For mothers who tested positive, blood sample was taken from the umbilical cord immediately after delivery of the baby and tested for IgG and IgM to check for vertical transmission. Data was analyzed with SPSS version 25. Means and standard deviations, proportions and frequencies were used to categorize data. Association of risk factors was analyzed using Chi-square, Odds ratio and Fisher’s exact test. Statistical significance was set at P value ≤ 0.05. Results: Mean age was 31.6 ± 4.1 years. The prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection was 30.2%. More than half 12 (66.7%) of pregnant women 40 years and above were positive for Toxoplasma IgG antibody, which indicates chronic infection. Infection rate was statistically lower in younger age groups (p=0.01). Eating meat from external vendors, previous blood transfusion, drinking untreated water, having a domestic pet and farming increased the risk for Toxoplasma gondii infection (p ≤ 0.05). There was no vertical transmission. Conclusion: Knowledge of Toxoplasma gondii infection was very low. There was a higher rate of infection with advancing age, low level of education, occupation, drinking of untreated water and previous history of blood transfusion. There is need for more public awareness on Toxoplasma gondii infection and its risk factors.