Mina Malary1, Zeinab Hamzehgardeshi2, Mahmood Moosazadeh3, Mahdi Afshari4, Imaneh Ahmadi5, Iman Moghaddasifar1, Motahareh Kheradmand3. 1. Student Research Committee, Emam Hospital, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Islamic Republic of Iran. 2. Department of Reproductive Health and Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Emam Hospital, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Islamic Republic of Iran. 3. Health Sciences Research Centre, Faculty of Health, Emam Hospital, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Islamic Republic of Iran. 4. Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Islamic Republic of Iran. 5. Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Emam Hospital, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Islamic Republic of Iran.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Toxoplasmosis is a great public health concern due to its capacity for prenatal transmission. Serologic studies have reported various estimates for seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among Iranian pregnant women. Estimation of the pooled prevalence of this infection is necessary for policy-making. AIMS: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in Iranian pregnant women using systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: We searched national and international databases to identify relevant studies. To enhance the search sensitivity, we evaluated all references and interviewed relevant researchers and research centres. The final studies for meta-analysis were selected according to the quality assessment as well as inclusion/exclusion criteria. Because of the heterogeneity of the primary results, random effects models were used to estimate the pooled prevalence of T. gondii. We included 43 studies with a total sample size of 22 644 in the meta-analysis. RESULTS: The pooled seroprevalence of overall toxoplasma infection, IgG antibody and IgM antibody was estimated at 41.3% (95% CI: 35.8-46.8), 39.2% (95% CI: 33.3-45.1) and 4.0% (95% CI: 3.1-4.9) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that a considerable proportion of Iranian pregnant women are at high risk for toxoplasmosis.
BACKGROUND: Toxoplasmosis is a great public health concern due to its capacity for prenatal transmission. Serologic studies have reported various estimates for seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among Iranian pregnant women. Estimation of the pooled prevalence of this infection is necessary for policy-making. AIMS: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in Iranian pregnant women using systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: We searched national and international databases to identify relevant studies. To enhance the search sensitivity, we evaluated all references and interviewed relevant researchers and research centres. The final studies for meta-analysis were selected according to the quality assessment as well as inclusion/exclusion criteria. Because of the heterogeneity of the primary results, random effects models were used to estimate the pooled prevalence of T. gondii. We included 43 studies with a total sample size of 22 644 in the meta-analysis. RESULTS: The pooled seroprevalence of overall toxoplasma infection, IgG antibody and IgM antibody was estimated at 41.3% (95% CI: 35.8-46.8), 39.2% (95% CI: 33.3-45.1) and 4.0% (95% CI: 3.1-4.9) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that a considerable proportion of Iranian pregnant women are at high risk for toxoplasmosis.