Abstract
Giardiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) are parasitic diseases that are among the major health concerns observed in economically disadvantaged populations of developing countries, and have clear social and environmental bases. In Brazil, there is a lack of epidemiologic data concerning these infections in the study area, whose inhabitants have plenty of access to health care services, including good dwelling and adequate sanitary conditions. In this survey we investigated the risk factors for giardiasis and STH in three municipalities with good sanitation, situated in Minas Gerais state, Brazil. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the municipalities of Piau, Coronel Pacheco and Goianá, in both urban and rural areas. The fieldwork consisted of a questionnaire and the examination of 2,367 stool samples using the Hoffmann, Pons and Janer method. Of all individuals from the population sample, 6.1% were found infected with the parasitic diseases included in this work. Hookworm infection was the most prevalent disease, followed by giardiasis, trichuriasis and ascariasis. Infection was more prevalent in males (8.1%, p < 0.001; odds ratio [OR] = 1.975) and in individuals living in rural areas (8.6%, p = 0.003; OR = 1.693). Multivariate analysis showed that variables such as inadequate sewage discharge (p < 0.001), drinking of unsafe water (p < 0.001), lack of sanitary infrastructure (p = 0.015), and host sex (p < 0.001) were the risk factors more strongly associated with infection status (95% confidence interval [CI]). In this study we demonstrate that giardiasis and STH still persist, infecting people who have good housing conditions and free access to public health care and education.
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported by FAPEMIG. We acknowledge Dr. José Laerte da Silva Barbosa, Dr. Eunice Caldas de Figueiredo Dantas, and Lourdes Maria Tasca Tavares (GRS/JF) for permission and support in the conduction of this research; we also give special thanks to Vera de Deus Pereira, for helping with the SPSS program, to the municipal authorities, to the fieldworkers, and to the people of Piau, Coronel Pacheco, and Goianá for their essential cooperation with the research.
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Pinheiro, I.d.O., de Castro, M.F., Mitterofhe, A. et al. Prevalence and risk factors for giardiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis in three municipalities of Southeastern Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Parasitol Res 108, 1123–1130 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-010-2154-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-010-2154-x