Prevalence and risk factors associated with geohelminths in children of north and northeast Brazil

by Lins Fonseca, Eduardo Oyama

Coprologic surveys were carried out to estimate the prevalence and identify risk factors associated with geohelminths infections among children in municipalities with low Human Development Indexes. Socioeconomic and environmental data were obtained from the children?s parents or guardians, and fecal samples were analyzed. The prevalence of these infections was calculated for variables of interest. Risk factors were evaluated using multilevel logistic regression. Of the 2,523 children studied, 36.5% were affected by one or more geohelminths (Ascaris lumbricoides: 25.1%; Ancylostomidae: 15.3%; Trichuris trichiura: 12.2%). The overall prevalence of geohelminths was 45.7% in rural areas and 32.2% in urban areas. Low family income (OR=1.75; 1.38-2.23), low maternal education level (OR=1.69; 1.39-2.06), presence of garbage near the home (OR=1.50; 1.22-1.84) and larger number of individuals in the home (OR=1.41; 1.17-1.71) persisted in the multivariate analysis. In conclusion, these parasitoses are related to socioeconomic conditions, confirming the importance of public interventions to improve life conditions for its prevention