Nurses´ Expectations toward Toxoplasmosis during Pregnancy

Abstract

The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) causes infection in humans all around the world .Infection with T. gondii is often acquired by ingesting food or water contaminated with oocyst shed by cats or by eating raw or undercooked meat containing tissue cysts. AIM: Aim of the study was to investigate nurses' expectations toward toxoplasmosis during pregnancy. Setting: the study was conducted at obstetric department at Benha University and Benha Teaching hospital. Design: was descriptive. Sampling Type: Convenient sample consisted of 110 nurses. Tools of Data Collection: three tools were used for collecting data; Structured interview questionnaire, likert scale and expectation tool. Results: more than two thirds of the studied nurses had incorrect knowledge toward toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, nearly half of the studied nurses had not expected and more than half of the studied nurses had negative attitude toward toxoplasmosis during pregnancy. The present study findings illustrated that there was a positive statistically significant correlation between total expectations scores, total attitude and total knowledge. Conclusion& Recommendations: the majority of nurses had incorrect knowledge and negative attitude toward toxoplasmosis during pregnancy. Continuous preservice, in service and on job training should be designed to improve nurses` knowledge, expectations and attitude.