Abstract

Influence of Toxoplasmosis on Human Personality Among Pregnant Women in Al-Najaf Province

One third of population around the developed countries is infected with Toxoplasma gondii. In the past 20 years, researchers have shown that this disease has a large influence on various aspects of human life. This study aims to determine the influence of toxoplasmosis on human personality among pregnant women in Al-Najaf province. Total 340 respondents within the age range 20-45 years old were pregnant women who had been diagnosed for toxoplasmosis. They were taken from the Obstetrics and Gynecology units in three governmental hospitals in Al-Najaf. In addition, the highest proportion of cases was in the age group of 25-29 years (32.4%), however, in the control group, it was in the age range 35-39 years (27.6%). According to the number of abortion, most of the cases had two cases of abortion (38.2%). On the other hand, most of the control respondents had zero abortion (20.0%), and there was a statistically significant difference between groups (p=0.001). It also shows that there was not a statistically significant difference between these two groups according to the ages (p=0.248). For the steroid hormones titrations (cortisol and free testosterone hormones) there was a statistical significant difference between groups (p=0.001). In addition, there was not a statistical significant difference between the cortisol hormone titrations in acute cases than in chronic cases (p=0.694). However, there was a statistical significant difference between the free testosterone hormone titrations in acute cases than in chronic (P=0.001). In conclusion, these hormones in the cases group are considered a significant risk factor, however, in the control are considered a protective factor.

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