Academic Journal
Toxoplasmosis - knowledge among university students in Erbil, Iraq: a cross-sectional study.
| Τίτλος: | Toxoplasmosis - knowledge among university students in Erbil, Iraq: a cross-sectional study. |
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| Συγγραφείς: | Chalabi KN, Jabar Bakr E; Department of Biology, College of Education, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Erbil, Iraq. |
| Πηγή: | International journal of environmental health research [Int J Environ Health Res] 2026 Sep; Vol. 36 (9), pp. 2642-2650. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Mar 23. |
| Τύπος έκδοσης: | Journal Article |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
| Στοιχεία περιοδικού: | Publisher: Informa Healthcare Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 9106628 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1369-1619 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 09603123 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Int J Environ Health Res Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: London : Informa Healthcare Original Publication: London : Chapman & Hall, c1991- |
| Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): | Students*/statistics & numerical data , Toxoplasmosis*/transmission , Toxoplasmosis*/psychology , Toxoplasmosis*/prevention & control , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*, Female ; Humans ; Iraq ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Universities ; Male ; Young Adult ; Adult ; Animals ; Adolescent ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Cats ; Pregnancy |
| Περίληψη: | Toxoplasmosis can cause severe complications in pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals. A cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire was carried out to evaluate knowledge regarding toxoplasmosis among 475 students at Salahaddin University - Erbil and its association with sociodemographic characteristics. Approximately half (49.79%) of the students reported having read, heard, or seen information about toxoplasmosis; however, knowledge of transmission routes and health consequences was limited. Only 37.37% recognized the role of cats in disease transmission, and a low percentage of students knew that infection could occur through the consumption of raw meat, unwashed fruit s or vegetables, blood transfusions, and contaminated soil. Knowledge of adverse pregnancy complications was also low, with only 26.74% indicated that Toxoplasma causes miscarriages, and 27.83% knew that unborn and newborn children could develop serious complications. More than three-quarters of the students practiced preventive behaviours by washing their hands after gardening, handling cat feces, and raw meat; these behaviours appear to reflect general hygiene practices rather than disease-specific knowledge. Generally, poor knowledge was found in 70.32% of students, with females demonstrating higher knowledge scores than males. The study outcomes indicate an urgent need for programs to enhance knowledge and preventive practices regarding toxoplasmosis among university students. |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Erbil; Iraq; Toxoplasmosis; knowledge; students |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260324 Date Completed: 20260901 Latest Revision: 20260901 |
| Update Code: | 20260901 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/09603123.2026.2649373 |
| PMID: | 41873025 |
| Βάση Δεδομένων: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 1369-1619 |
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| DOI: | 10.1080/09603123.2026.2649373 |