[Giardia duodenalis prevalence and associated risk factors in preschool and school-age children of rural Colombia].
BACKGROUND
Giardia doudenalis infection remains an important public health problem worldwide, as well as in Colombia. This infection is associated with poverty and lack of public services.


OBJECTIVE
The study was designed to describe prevalence trends of Giardia duodenalis infections in preschool and school-age children from the village of La Virgen, Quipile, Cundinamarca, and its possible association with socioeconomic variables.


METHODS
Three cross-sectional studies were undertaken in 1995, 2001 and 2005. In each, a non-random sample was selected among children aged <1 to 15 years. Fecal samples were collected for direct examination in order to determine G. duodenalis infection and other intestinal parasites. During the 2005 survey information was collected concerning the sociodemographic and economic conditions in each family group from which a child was sampled.


RESULTS
The prevalence of G. duodenalis infection did not change significantly during the study period-13.6% in 1995, 12.8% in 2001 and 15.2% in 2005. These results suggested that belonging to the subsidized health care regime was associated with G. duodenalis infection (prevalence rate [PR]: 4.47; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.6-32.0), not having water supply (PR 2.6; 95% CI 1.1-6.0) and involvement in agricultural activities (PR 2.5; 95% CI 1.0-6.4).


CONCLUSIONS
Giardiasis is a continuing public health problem at La Virgen. As long as the environmental and socioeconomic factors associated with infection persist, this intestinal protozoan infection will not be controlled.
Chaves
María del Pilar
Mdel P
Unidad de Parasitología, Departamento de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, D. C, Colombia.
Fernández
Julián Alfredo
JA
Ospina
Isabel
I
López
Myriam Consuelo
MC
Moncada
Ligia
L
Reyes
Patricia
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005872:Giardia / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health; D012424:Rural Population; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors