title: Ascaris lumbricoides intensity in relation to environmental, socioeconomic, and behavioral determinants of exposure to infection in children from southeast Madagascar.
abstract: Ascaris lumbricoides worm counts were examined as the outcome products of exposure proxy variables. A survey of 663 children, 4-10 yr old, living in southeastern Madagascar revealed prevalences of 93% for A. lumbricoides, 55% for Trichuris trichiura, and 27% for hookworm. Worm expulsions were conducted on 428 of these children; the data revealed an overdispersed distribution of A. lumbricoides, with an arithmetic mean of 19.2 worms per child. A concurrent socioeconomic household survey was conducted by visitation and interview. Exposure to infection was assessed by environmental, demographic, behavioral, and socioeconomic indicators. Ascaris lumbricoides aggregations were associated with gender, housing style, ethnicity, and agricultural factors. The results suggest that exposure and infection are ubiquitous in this child population, and that A. lumbricoides intensity is influenced by gender-related behavioral and environmental factors that contribute to exposure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-7400, USA.
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Kightlinger
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Seed
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Kightlinger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000969:Antinematodal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001196:Ascariasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D017164:Ascaris lumbricoides / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004522:Educational Status; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D008270:Madagascar / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008463:Mebendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015995:Prevalence; D011716:Pyrantel Pamoate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012499:Sanitation; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class
chemical_list: D000969:Antinematodal Agents; D011716:Pyrantel Pamoate; D008463:Mebendazole