title: High prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths in Southern Belize-highlighting opportunity for control interventions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminths (STH) in school age children of two southern districts as baseline information prior to implement a deworming program against intestinal parasites as part of an integrated country development plan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children randomly selected from urban and rural schools in Southern Belize provided one stool sample each, analysed by the Kato-Katz method to assess prevalence and intensity of STH infections. Epi Info software was used for data analysis; Chi-square test and Fischer exact test were applied to compare group proportions; P<0.05 was considered of statistical significance; descriptive statistics were expressed as percentages.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 500 children from 10 schools participated in the study from May to December 2005. Prevalence of STH ranged between 40% and 82% among schools, with a median of 59.2%; the majority of light intensity, and with 2.2% high intensity infection. Trichuris and Ascaris infections presented similar frequency in children aged from 6 to 9 years old; hookworm infections tended to be more frequent in the older group 10 to 12 years old. Statistical significances (P≤0.01) were found in children in rural schools infected with any species of STH, in moderate Trichuris infections, in hookworm infections in rural areas with strong Mayan presence and in Ascaris infections in children of Mayan origin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High prevalence of STH in Southern Belize provided sound ground for implementing an integrated deworming control program.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Honduras and Parasitology Service, Department of Clinical Laboratory, University Hospital, Honduras.
authors.forename: Rina Girard
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Kaminsky
authors.affiliation: Department of Communicable Diseases and Health Analysis, Pan American Health Organization, Washington D.C., United States of America.
authors.forename: Steven K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ault
authors.affiliation: Southern Regional Hospital, Stann Creek District, Ministry of Health, Belize.
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.affiliation: Southern Regional Hospital, Stann Creek District, Ministry of Health, Belize.
authors.forename: Kenton
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Serrano
authors.affiliation: Head of PAHO/WHO in Suriname, former Services of Health Systems Consultant, PAHO/WHO, Belize.
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Troya
keywords: Belize; Intestinal parasites; Soil-transmitted helminths; Survey