Abstract: Toxoplasmosis is a globally distributed disease caused by toxoplasma gondii, its sero-prevalence variation has been attributed to environmental, socio-economic, quality of water sanitation and eating habit factor. In humans it can affect anyone but mostly individuals with weak immune system, pregnant women and infected newborn child. Nevertheless, this life-threatening parasitic disease is preventable by simple preventive measures related to lifestyle.

Methods: A total of 380 women with children under five years of age in Nyamagana district were randomly surveyed to determine the knowledge and their practices on Toxoplasmosis. The questionnaire covered respondents ‘general information and knowledge on risks factors, symptoms, prevention knowledge, and preventive behavior regarding Toxoplasmosis.

Results: Majority of our participants were young women with mean age of 26.5 years, women attended health and reproductive clinic at Nyamagana hospital (87.4%) and Makongoro hospital (12.6%), most have number of children below 4(62.9%), and only 12.6% had history of abortion. Based on this study, 86.8% of these women with children under five years heard about Toxoplasmosis and 3.2% were aware of the mode of transmission of Toxoplasmosis. A small percentage of these women knew that Toxoplasmosis had effects to pregnant women (3%). Many of these don’t know causes, symptoms and control measure of Toxoplasmosis. There is significant association between abortion and those who don’t treat water with p-value of 0.01. Further analysis revealed that, no significant association was found between the demographic variables and the responses from these women regarding knowledge and practices on Toxoplasmosis.

Conclusion: Based on the study results, we report there is still low knowledge and practice on Toxoplasmosis among women with children under five years attending RCH in Nyamagana district. The complex interaction of risk factors for Toxoplasmosis needs to be studied in larger longitudinal studies. Thus, it is suggested that health education on toxoplasmosis and primary behavioral practices should be consistently offered to reproductive age women in general and pregnant women in particular. This information could help to reduce transmission of toxoplasmosis.