title: Intestinal parasitic infections among pregnant women in Venezuela.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intestinal parasitic infections, especially due to helminths, increase anemia in pregnant women. The results of this are low pregnancy weight gain and IUGR, followed by LBW, with its associated greater risks of infection and higher perinatal mortality rates. For these reasons, in the setting of no large previous studies in Venezuela about this problem, a national multicentric study was conducted.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pregnant women from nine states were studied, a prenatal evaluation with a coproparasitological study. Univariated and multivariated analyses were made to determine risk factors for intestinal parasitosis and related anemia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During 19 months, 1038 pregnant women were included and evaluated. Intestinal parasitosis was evidenced in 73.9%: A lumbricoides 57.0%, T trichiura 36.0%, G lamblia 14.1%, E hystolitica 12.0%, N americanus 8.1%, E vermicularis 6.3%, S stercoralis 3.3%. Relative risk for anemia in those women with intestinal parasitosis was 2.56 (P < .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intestinal parasitoses could be associated with conditions for development of anemia at pregnancy. These features reflect the need of routine coproparasitological study among pregnant women in rural and endemic zones for intestinal parasites. Further therapeutic and prophylactic protocols are needed. Additional research on pregnant intestinal parasitic infection impact on newborn health is also considered.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Health, Ministry of Health, Carupano, Sucre, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Alfonso J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Morales
authors.forename: Rosa A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Barbella
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Case
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arria
authors.forename: Marisela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ravelo
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Urdaneta
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gervasio
authors.forename: Nestor
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rubio
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maldonado
authors.forename: Ymora
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aguilera
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Viloria
authors.forename: Juan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.forename: Magdary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colina
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: Elianet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Araujo
authors.forename: Gilberto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cabaniel
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Benitez
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rifakis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D000818:Animals; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D009348:Nematoda / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009349:Nematode Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D015995:Prevalence; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014687:Venezuela / Q000453:epidemiology