title: Lymphatic filariasis among children and adolescents: spatial identification via socio-environmental indicators to define priority areas for elimination.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The occurrence of lymphatic filariasis (LF) and its transmission dynamics among children and adolescents are still not clearly elucidated. The aim of this study was to describe the spatial distribution of microfilaremia and its relationship with socio-environmental variables, thereby identifying areas at greater risk of transmission.
  
  
  METHODS
  An ecological study was conducted, in which the analysis unit was formed by districts of the municipality of Jaboatão dos Guararapes in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. The data source was a parasitological survey. Inadequate sewage disposal, number of people in the household and income of between 0.5 and 1 minimum salary were used to construct the socio-environmental indicator. The districts were then grouped according to the indicator into three risk strata, using the k-means clustering technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the study, 96/8670 (1.1%) of the population were found to present microfilaremia. The high-risk stratum had a mean prevalence rate of 1.9% and a risk of 2.56 (p<0.05), in relation to the low-risk stratum. The middle stratum grouped the households that presented an intermediate risk of transmission, with a prevalence rate of 1.92%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The indicator used is a promising tool that enables the precise measurement of the relationship between social deprivation and the prevalence of filarial infection among children. Thus, it can be used to plan control and elimination actions.
authors: Parasitology Department, Aggeu Magalhães Research Center, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Pernambuco, Brazil Postgraduate Course on Tropical Medicine, Federal University of Pernambuco, Pernambuco, Brazil brandaoe@cpqam.fiocruz.br brandaoe@cpqam.fiocruz.br.
authors: Eduardo
authors: E
authors: Brandão
authors: Social Research Department, Joaquin Nabuco Foundation, Pernambuco, Brazil Postgraduate Programme Integrated Graduate in Public Health, Federal University of Pernambuco, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors: Cristine
authors: C
authors: Bonfim
authors: Postgraduate Course on Tropical Medicine, Federal University of Pernambuco, Pernambuco, Brazil Faculty Agreste of Pernambuco, Caruaruense Association of University Education, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors: Ayla
authors: A
authors: Alves
authors: University Center Maurício of Nassau, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors: Conceição
authors: C
authors: Oliveira
authors: Parasitology Department, Aggeu Magalhães Research Center, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors: Carlos Eduardo
authors: CE
authors: Montenegro
authors: Economy Department, Centre for Applied Social Sciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors: Tadeu
authors: T
authors: Costa
authors: Postgraduate Course on Tropical Medicine, Federal University of Pernambuco, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors: Amélia
authors: A
authors: Maciel
authors: Parasitology Department, Aggeu Magalhães Research Center, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Pernambuco, Brazil Pathology Department, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Pernambuco, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors: Zulma
authors: Z
authors: Medeiros
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004605:Elephantiasis, Filarial / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012499:Sanitation; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Children; Control programs; Lymphatic filariasis; Spatial analysis