title: Risk factors for intestinal parasitic infections in preschoolers in a low socio-economic area, Diamantina, Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To verify the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among preschoolers and to identify the associated risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study is a cross-sectional study nested in a cohort of children who were born and resident in Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil. At the time of the study, all children were aged 60 months ± five months. They were recruited after written informed consent was obtained from parents or guardians. The study was carried out between July 2009 and July 2010. In total 214 children provided a stool sample for examination on intestinal parasitic infections. Information on potential risk factors for parasitosis was obtained from parents and guardians of the children by a questionnaire. Logistic regression was used for analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intestinal parasitic infections were found in 27·5% (n = 59) of children. The boys' infection prevalence (26·1%, n = 36) was slightly lower than the infection prevalence of the girls (30·3%, n = 23), but not statistically different (p = 0·51). Fourteen children, (23·7%) were infected with two or more parasite species and forty-five (76·3%) with single parasites. A low per capita income of family was strongly associated with an increased risk for an infection (OR = 2·89; P = 0.003). Preschoolers whose mothers did not work outside home had a significantly lower risk for infection (OR = 0·41; p = 0·01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intestinal parasite infection is a health problem among Diamantina preschoolers. Poverty was implicated as an important risk factor for infection, while the presence of the mother at home full-time was a protective factor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Federal University of Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri - UFVJM, Diamantina, MG, Brazil. lunerinobre@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Luciana N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Nobre
authors.forename: Renata V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Mariana S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Macedo
authors.forename: Romero A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Joel A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lamounier
authors.forename: Sylvia C C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Franceschini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene / Q000592:standards*; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011204:Poverty Areas; D015995:Prevalence; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors