Impact of health education on knowledge and prevention behavior for congenital toxoplasmosis: the experience in Poznan, Poland

In 1991-1997 educational activities were undertaken in the Poznan region of Poland to promote health education for the prevention of toxoplasmosis. The effect of education was measured in 2710 pregnant women by a questionnaire survey. Knowledge of toxoplasmosis and its prevention was almost doubled within 4 years. Similarly, the proportion of women having antenatal serological tests for toxoplasmosis significantly increased. In the examined population the knowledge of how Toxoplasma gondii is transmitted/acquired was better than the knowledge of individual risk factors for congenital toxoplasmosis. Correct hygienic behaviors in pregnancy were often practised by women who lacked good knowledge of toxoplasmosis. The experience from this study suggests the possible effectiveness of including prevention of toxoplasmosis into the whole package of preventing infectious diseases in pregnancy and into healthy lifestyle promotion. Health educational activities need to be realized by modern promotional technologies in addition to making available traditional written educational texts. There is a considerable role of medical services in promotion of a hygienic behavior in pregnant women preventing congenital toxoplasmosis in their offspring. Health education should be especially tailored to the population of pregnant women below the age of 21.