title: A socioenvironmental composite index as a tool for identifying urban areas at risk of lymphatic filariasis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the spatial distribution of lymphatic filariasis and its relationship with the socioenvironmental risk indicator, thus identifying priority localities for interventions in endemic urban areas.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study area was the municipality of Jaboatão dos Guararapes, State of Pernambuco, Brazil. The data sources were a parasitological survey and the 2000 demographic census. From these data, a socioenvironmental composite risk indicator was constructed using the 484 census tracts (CT) as the analysis units, based on the score-formation technique. Census tracts with higher indicator values presented higher risk of occurrences of filariasis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six thousand five hundred and seven households were surveyed and 23 673 individuals were examined, among whom 323 cases of microfilaremia were identified. The mean prevalence rate for the municipality was 1.4%. The indicator showed that 73% (237/323) of the cases of microfilaremia were in high-risk areas (third and fourth quartiles) with worse socioenvironmental conditions (RR = 4.86, CI = 3.09-7.73, P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The socioenvironmental composite risk indicator demonstrated sensitivity, since it was able to identify the localities with greater occurrence of infection. Because it can stratify spaces by using official and available data, it constitutes an important tool for use in the worldwide program for eliminating lymphatic filariasis.
authors.affiliation: Fundação Joaquim Nabuco, Ministério da Educação, Recife, Brazil. cristine.bonfim@fundaj.gov.br
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonfim
authors.forename: M J E
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Netto
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pedroza
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Portugal
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Medeiros
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004605:Elephantiasis, Filarial / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014504:Urban Health; D055815:Young Adult