| dc.description.abstract | An infection with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) can be contracted through contact with oocysts of the parasite in the environment or bradyzoites in raw or undercooked meat and can cause adverse health effects for pregnant women and the unborn child. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of educational interventions and describe the current state of awareness about the prevention of T. gondii infection among pregnant women in the Netherlands through a systematic review of the scientific literature. This study included 24 records that were retrieved from four global, scientific databases: UU Worldcat, PubMed, Science Direct, and Web of Science. A narrative synthesis approach was used in the analysis of records. Educational interventions were shown to increase pregnant women’s knowledge about toxoplasmosis, but behavioural changes and changes in seroprevalence rates were not reported. Important components that should be researched further regarding educational interventions regard the communication methods, timing and detailed or general knowledge about the pathogen. Based on an analysis of videotaped consultations from midwives to pregnant women in the Netherlands, it was found that the advice that was given to pregnant women was in line with risk factors for toxoplasmosis. The degree of knowledge about toxoplasmosis among pregnant women in the Netherlands is high relative to the rest of the world, but relatively low when compared with European countries. Worldwide, gaps in knowledge regarding the prevention of toxoplasmosis persist. Additionally, it was shown that a high degree of knowledge is not obligatory for a high degree of self-reported preventive behaviour, suggesting that improving the degree of knowledge is of lesser importance to reducing the burden of toxoplasmosis. In the interest of further reducing the occurrence of T. gondii infections, further research should be conducted focusing on the efficacy of an educational intervention in the prevention of T. gondii among pregnant women in the Netherlands by researching changes in behaviour and changes in seroprevalence rates after an educational campaign. | |
