" Effectiveness of a Structured Teaching Program on Anxiety and Perception Regarding Toxoplasmosis among Seropositive Pregnant Women in Northern Upper Egypt "
Research Abstract
Background: Toxoplasmosis is a major opportunistic infection caused by single-cell protozoan from Coccidia family. Up to 95% of infected individuals remain asymptomatic, nevertheless it may be a leading cause of foodborne illness-related hospitalization and death. Primo infection might cross the placental barrier and cause health-threatening sequelae for the fetus leading to miscarriage, hydrocephalus, retinochoroiditis. Moreover, infection may cause infertility, endometritis, uterine atrophy, impaired folliculogenesis. Aim: evaluate the effectiveness of an educational program on perception and anxiety level regarding toxoplasmosis among seropositive pregnant women in Beni-Suef. Subjects and Methods: A quasi-experimental design was used with 50 seropositive pregnant women attending to the inpatient/outpatient antenatal care units. Tools: A structured knowledge questionnaire, Pre-test/post-test/retained-test knowledge assessment sheet and Zung’s self-rating anxiety scale. Results: Preprogram 96% scored poor knowledge and no one (0.00%) reported severe anxiety. Whereas; immediately post-program 70% scored good knowledge and 84% reported severe anxiety. By the time all women (100%) gained good knowledge and 48% reported severe anxiety. Significant association between mean knowledge scores and demographic variables (p<0.0001) was found. Anxiety level of whose higher mean knowledge score was non significantly higher than the other of the group whose lower mean knowledge score. Conclusion: Although the program is effective to enhance women's perception regarding Toxoplasmosis, it exaggerated anxiety level for them. Negative association was found between women's perception and anxiety level, however, this relation is not significant. Recommendations: implementation of health education programs aimed to primary prevention of toxoplasmosis is mandatory for all women in childbearing age.
Research Keywords
Perception, Enhancing, Toxoplasmosis, Anxiety, Structured Educational Program