Wessal Hassan Omer Mohamed

Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda

Abstract Title:

Maternal, Fetal, and Neonatal Outcomes Associated with Brucellosis and Toxoplasmosis During Pregnancy in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Systematic Review Protocol

Biography:

Wessal Hassan Omer Mohamed is a Sudanese public health professional and Master of Public Health student at Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda. She has over six years of experience in the public health field in Sudan, with a focus on community health and disease prevention. Her research interests include infectious disease epidemiology and maternal health, particularly in low-resource and humanitarian settings. She is committed to contributing to evidence-based interventions that improve maternal and child health outcomes in vulnerable populations.

Research Interests:

Introduction: Brucellosis and toxoplasmosis are neglected zoonotic diseases that remain important causes of illness in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where close human animal interactions, food safety challenges, and limited diagnostic capacity increase infection risk. Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable because these infections may lead to serious maternal, fetal, and neonatal complications, including miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth, congenital infection, and neonatal morbidity. This review aims to synthesise evidence on maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes associated with brucellosis and toxoplasmosis in LMICs.
Methods and Analysis: This protocol was developed in line with PRISMA-P 2015 guidelines. A systematic search will be conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, Europe PMC, African Journals Online, and Google Scholar for studies published between 2020 and 2026. The protocol has been registered with Open Science Framework (OSF). Observational studies reporting maternal, fetal, or neonatal outcomes among pregnant women diagnosed with brucellosis and/or toxoplasmosis in LMICs will be included. Two reviewers will independently conduct study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment using Joanna Briggs Institute tools. Due to expected heterogeneity, findings will be synthesised narratively following SWiM guidance.
Preliminary Findings: Preliminary screening suggests evidence linking both infections with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth, low birth weight, fetal growth restriction, congenital infection, and neonatal complications. Toxoplasmosis is more often associated with fetal and neonatal outcomes, while brucellosis shows stronger associations with miscarriage, stillbirth, and early neonatal death.
Conclusion: This review will provide comprehensive evidence to inform maternal health interventions and zoonotic disease control strategies in LMICs