Knowledge and practices of toxoplasmosis among healthcare workers at two large referral hospitals in Zambia: Implications on the One Health Approach

Abstract

Introduction Assessing the knowledge and practices of healthcare workers regarding Toxoplasma gondii infection, diagnosis, treatment, and control is crucial for developing an effective management strategy. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 175 healthcare workers at Ndola Teaching Hospital and Namwala District Hospital in Zambia from September 2021 to April 2022. Results More than half (57.1%) of the respondents were males. Overall, 46(26.3%) and 68 (38.9%) respondents reported good knowledge and practices, respectively. Respondents with a higher number of years of experience (AOR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.77–0.97), who were nurses than clinicians (AOR = 0.17, 95% CI: 0.007–0.41) and working at Ndola teaching hospital than Namwala hospital (AOR = 0.34, 95% CI:0.13–0.89) were less likely to have good knowledge. Respondents with a degree qualification than a diploma (AOR = 3.04, 95% CI: 1.09–8.47) were more likely to have good knowledge. Respondents from Ndola teaching hospital than Namwala hospital (AOR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.17–0.92) were less likely to have good practices. Conclusion Our study revealed that healthcare workers had low levels of knowledge and poor practices, which could have negative implications for the management of toxoplasmosis. To improve their knowledge and practices, continuous medical education in Toxoplasma related aspects is recommended for in-service healthcare workers.

Knowledge Gaps and Educational Opportunities in Congenital Toxoplasmosis: A Narrative Review of Brazilian and Global Perspectives

“…Additionally, the level of knowledge of toxoplasmosis exhibited variations across different healthcare professions. Physicians consistently demonstrated superior understanding compared to other healthcare workers, such as nurses [ 81 ], and obstetricians were noted for providing more precise preventive counseling on toxoplasmosis than their counterparts in internal medicine and family practice [ 78 ]. Notably, none of the included studies reported correlations regarding years of experience.…”

“…In addition, disparities in knowledge of the modes of transmission further complicate the landscape. While healthcare providers in several regions are adept at identifying the risks of consuming raw or undercooked meat [ 30 , 42 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 79 ], they display less consistency in recognizing waterborne sources and the importance of sanitization practices for vegetables and fruits, especially in Brazil and countries with lower HDI scores [ 30 , 40 , 41 , 72 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 81 ]. These inconsistencies underscore a fragmented approach to education that may leave significant aspects of toxoplasmosis transmission unaddressed.…”

“…Moreover, healthcare providers’ knowledge of toxoplasmosis significantly varies across types of professionals, specialties, and years of experience. Physicians generally outperformed nurses and other healthcare practitioners [ 30 , 40 , 41 , 43 , 45 , 81 ]. In the realm of prenatal care, obstetricians showed a commendable aptitude for providing nuanced preventive counseling compared to internists and family physicians, and professionals with less than ten years of graduation tended to have a more comprehensive understanding of the disease [ 40 , 78 ].…”

“…Our review highlights gaps in the knowledge of toxoplasmosis among healthcare providers in Brazil [30,[40][41][42][43][44][45][46], echoing the patterns observed worldwide [57,[71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80][81]. While there is an established general knowledge of the disease, with a substantial majority correctly identifying cats as a transmission source for T. gondii, there are important misconceptions, such as the misattributed role of dogs or humans in shedding oocysts or the overemphasis on avoiding all contact with cats or keeping them outdoors [40,75,77].…”