Table 2.
Risk factors and their associations with seroprevalence for T. gondii in Saudi women
| Variables | Risk | Not associated | Number of studies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sociodemographic factors | |||
| Age | (26–35 years),14,18 (>30 years),20 (increasing age),22 (increasing age),26 (25–34 years) | 17, 25, 28, 32 | 9 |
| Marital status | – | 25 | 1 |
| Years of marriage | – | 32 | 1 |
| Nationality | – | 18 | 1 |
| Race | – | 32 | 1 |
| Residence | (Urban),14,20 (rural) | 25, 26, 32 | 5 |
| Education | (Middle)28 | 14, 17, 20, 32 | 5 |
| Work status | – | 14, 20, 22, 26, 32 | 5 |
| Domestic helper | – | 17 | 1 |
| Monthly household income, SAR | (low income <6,000 SAR)20 | 25 | 2 |
| Blood groups | – | 32 | 1 |
| Height (cm) | (<120 cm)32 | – | 1 |
| Weight (kg) | – | 32 | 1 |
| Behavioral factors | |||
| Cat ownership | – | 22, 25, 28, 32 | 4 |
| Contact with cat | – | 14, 17, 18, 25, 32 | 5 |
| Raw or undercooked meat consumption | 20, 32 | 14, 17, 22, 25, 26, 28 | 8 |
| Raw or undercooked egg consumption | – | 32 | 1 |
| Raw or unwashed vegetable/fruit consumption | 25 | 20 | 2 |
| Type of meat consumed | – | 18, 32 | 2 |
| Frequency of eating meat | – | 18, 32 | 2 |
| Meat preference | – | 18 | 1 |
| Hand washing after contact with raw meat | – | 25, 32 | 2 |
| Eating outside the home | 28 | 17, 26, 32 | 4 |
| Testing food during cooking | – | 17, 28, 32 | 3 |
| Drinking untreated water | – | 17, 18, 20, 25, 32 | 5 |
| Drinking unpasteurized milk | – | 18, 22, 25, 32 | 4 |
| Contact with garden soil | 18 | 25, 28, 32 | 4 |
| Cleaning house and dusting | – | 18, 32 | 2 |
| Washing kitchen daily | – | 26, 32 | 2 |
| Recently traveled abroad | – | 28 | 1 |
| Obstetric history and other health factors | |||
| Pregnancy | – | 18 | 1 |
| Gestation age | – | 17, 22, 26, 32 | 4 |
| Abortion | 20 | 17, 18, 22, 32 | 5 |
| Stillbirth | – | 32 | 1 |
| Malformed fetus | – | 22 | 1 |
| Gravidity or parity | 22 | 14, 20, 28, 32 | 5 |
| Previous history of toxoplasmosis | 22 | – | 1 |
| Previous history of treatment with spiramycin | – | 22 | 1 |
| Previous history of blood transfusion | – | 22 | 1 |
| Intake of immunosuppressive drugs | – | 22 | 1 |
| Knowledge and awareness factors | |||
| Toxoplasmosis knowledge | 28 | 17 | 2 |
| Knowledge of the risk of soil contact and unwashed vegetables and fruits | – | 28 | 1 |
| Knowledge of the risk of handling raw meat or tasting during cooking | 28 | – | 1 |
| Knowledge of the effects of the disease on the fetus | – | 28 | 1 |
| Awareness of the risks of undercooked meat | 28 | 1 | |
| Awareness of cats as a source of infection | – | 28 | 1 |
Abbreviation: SAR, Saudi Arabian Riyal (~$0.266).