Toxoplasmose gestacional e congênita: percepção de gestantes, aspectos sociodemográficos, ambientais e epidemiológicos

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), an obligate intracellular parasite, which affects several species of living beings including man, but which only manages to complete its life cycle in felines, its definitive host. As far as symptoms are concerned, the general population is asymptomatic, but severe forms of the disease are seen in immunocompromised/immunosuppressed people and especially newborns, where it is responsible for up to 50% of brain lesions and can affect diferentes organs such as the eyes, lungs, heart, intestines and brain. This raised the need to find out whether or not social, environmental and knowledge factors interfere with the prevention and promotion of health involving toxoplasmosis in the municipality of Uberlândia, in the state of Minas Gerais. The aim of this research was to find out about the epidemiology of gestational and congenital toxoplasmosis in the municipality of Uberlândia-MG and to correlate this with the socio-sanitary conditions of the municipality's pregnant population. This research is a cross-sectional, descriptive epidemiological study with a quantitative approach. It was carried out by analyzing data on notifications of gestational and congenital toxoplasmosis, recorded in the municipality of Uberlândia, from 2017 to 2023 and also with 227 pregnant women who underwent prenatal care in the municipality's Primary Health Care from February to May 2024. The data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel® and Jamovi® softwareand described in tables using descriptive statistics expressed as percentages. The study followed ethical guidelines and was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Uberlândia. Two scientific articles were generated, one with the data from the notifications, which found 219 pregnant women positive for T. gondiiand 114 notifications for congenital toxoplasmosis, of which 54.3% (119/219) had no schooling. The eastern sector was the most affected by gestational toxoplasmosis and 33.3% (38/114) congenital toxoplasmosis. The second article, carried out with 227 pregnant women, showed a predominance of women aged between 18 and 28, with a mean age of 27.6 ± 6.1 years, 52.4% (119/227) in a stable union, 50.2% (114/227) had completed high school and 57.3% (130/227) had an income of between 1 and 3 minimum wages. The negligence in collecting data on education in the notifications prevents the development of effective continuing education for pregnant women, considering that socioeconomic and health factors also play an important role in vulnerability to gestational toxoplasmosis. The analysis of Uberlândia's sectors (north, east and west) revealed both health and social vulnerabilities. This highlights the need for joint action between urban planning and health managers to plan and develop infrastructure and basic sanitation.