Prevalence of toxoplasma gondii in Iranian pregnant women: systematic review and meta-analysis

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 Laboratory Science Student, Student Research Committee, School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran.

10.22038/ijogi.2025.76559.5934

Abstract

Introduction: Toxoplasma gondii parasite is an obligate intracellular protozoan shared between humans and animals and has many effects on pregnant women. The present systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted with aim to determine the prevalence of toxoplasma gondii in pregnant women in Iran.
Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis study was conducted by checking Scientific Information Database (SID), Medline (PubMed), ScienceDirect and Google Scholar without time limit and until November 2023. The keywords used in this study were in English and Persian included toxoplasma gondii, pregnant women, and parasitic infection. The information extracted from the studies was entered into the Comprehensive Meta-analysis (CMA, Version 2) software. The heterogeneity of the studies was analyzed by the I2 test and the distribution bias in the studies was also analyzed by the correlation test at a significance level of 0.1 and funnel plot. Also, the effective factors in creating heterogeneity were investigated by meta-regression test.
Results: In a review of 37 studies with a sample size of 19,784 pregnant women, the prevalence of toxoplasma gondii in Iranian pregnant women was reported as 41.1% (95% CI 34.6-47.9). In the review of the factors affecting the heterogeneity of the studies and the review of the effect of the sample size on this heterogeneity, it was reported that with the increase of sample size, the prevalence of toxoplasma gondii in Iranian pregnant women increases (p<0.05); also with the increase of the year of conducting studies, the prevalence of toxoplasma gondii in Iranian pregnant women decreases (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The prevalence of toxoplasma gondii in pregnant women in Iran is at a high level and it is necessary to increase the awareness of women before pregnancy as well as pregnant women during pregnancy, and carry out the necessary health education in health centers and specific and targeted screening measures for determination of infected pregnant women and reduction of its effects on infants.

Keywords

Main Subjects

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The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility
Volume 27, Issue 11
January 2025
Pages 74-87

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