Abstract

BONFIM, William de Miranda; CARDOSO, Mirian Domingos; CARDOSO, Valbérico de Albuquerque  and  ANDREAZZE, Ricardo. Tungiasis in underprivileged communities in Natal, State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil: prevalence and associated factors. Epidemiol. Serv. Saúde [online]. 2010, vol.19, n.4, pp.379-388. ISSN 1679-4974.  http://dx.doi.org/10.5123/S1679-49742010000400008.

OBJECTIVE. to estimate the prevalence and to identify the associated factors of tungiasis in a shanty town in the capital city of Natal, State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. METHODOLOGY: the population study was conducted from November 2008 to May 2009, when data were collected using socioenvironmental, epidemiological and veterinary questionnaires. A total of 310 residents were examined. RESULTS: the prevalence was 23.2% (95% Cl 18.6 - 28.3). Factors independently associated were: male (OR95% Cl2.9, 1.2 - 7.0), illiteracy/poor education (OR95% Cl4.1, 1.7 -9.6) andfootwear- OR95% ranged from 13.7 (4.3 - 43.9) to 48.8 (10.5 - 227.9). CONCLUSION: in that population, tungiasis was strongly associated with low education and inadequate use of footwear.

Keywords : Tunga penetrans; tungiasis; ectoparasitic disease; sand flea; prevalence.

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