Abstract

ANDRADE, Elisabeth Campos de et al. Prevalence of parasitic intestinal diseases in a quilombola community, in the Municipality of Bias Fortes, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, 2008. Epidemiol. Serv. Saúde [online]. 2011, vol.20, n.3, pp.337-344. ISSN 1679-4974.  http://dx.doi.org/10.5123/S1679-49742011000300008.

OBJECTIVE: the study aims to investigate prevalence and factors associated to intestinal parasitic diseases in the population of Colônia do Paiol, a quilombola community in the municipality of Bias Fortes, located in the Zona da Mata region of the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. METHODOLOGY: cross-sectional census study was conducted, and 391 (92%) of the 425 inhabitants were interviewed through a questionnaire and evaluated by means of a coproparasitologic test. RESULTS: the test positivity rate for at least one parasite specie was of 63.8%, and the pathogenic species more often found were Ascaris lumbricoides (22.4%) and Trichuris trichiura (17.9%); multiparasitism was diagnosed in 36.5% of those who took part in the study; prevalence was higher for females compared to males, also for school children aged from 6 to 14 years old. CONCLUSION: a significant association was observed between the presence of intestine parasites and a number of environment conditions such as sewage collection and disposal, access to basic health services, use of easily administered medicines for treatment of enteroparasitosis, and education policies on basic health knowledge among population members.

Keywords : intestinal diseases; cross-sectional studies; risk factors; African-continental ancestry groups.

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