Schistosomiasis mansoni in an area of low transmission: II. Risk factors for infection

Abstract

Risk factors for Schistosoma mansoni infection were identified using a 1:1 matched case-control design. The work was conducted in the municipality of Pedro de Toledo, São Paulo State, Brazil, an area where the snail host is Biomphalaria tenagophila. Information on water contact patterns, knowledge, attitudes and pratices (kap), socioeconomic and sanitary conditions were obtained by mean of questionnaires. The crude odds ratio estimates and the adjusted odds ratio estimates using the logistic regression model are presented. Most of the examined individuals admitted recent water contacts (90.6% of the cases). The most frequent reason for contact was swimming, playing and fishing and the preferential site of contact was the river. According to the logistic regression technique, the main risk factors for infection were: a) water contact through swimming, playing and fishing; b) fording; c) bad hygiene. We concluded that recreational activities are the main reasons for schistosomiasis transmission in Pedro de Toledo and leisure alternatives should be offered to the local population.

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Knowledge, attitude and practices in relation to prevention and control of schistosomiasis infection in Mwea Kirinyaga county, Kenya

“…The current study was consistent with studies conducted in Gondar and Babile [ 12 , 13 ], where there was significant association between intestinal parasitic infections and hand washing practice. A study conducted in Brazil reported that daily contact of open water source results in higher rate of infection by S. mansoni [ 14 ].…”

Estudo de anticorpos IgM para vigilância epidemiológica da esquistossomose mansoni em área de baixa endemicidade

“…As atividades de controle vêm sendo desenvolvidas nas seguintes regiões do estado: Vale do Rio Paraíba do Sul, vale do Rio Ribeira de Iguape, Baixada Santista, litoral Sul, Vale do Paranapanema e áreas metropolitanas de São Paulo e Campinas. De todas essas regiões, a área dos municípios de Pedro de Toledo e Itariri, no vale do Ribeira, vêm sendo uma das mais ativamente pesquisadas e controladas 6,7,24,25 . O controle da esquistossomose em Pedro de Toledo foi iniciado em 1968 pela Campanha de Combate à Esquistossomose da Secretaria de Saúde do Estado de São Paulo, tendo a Superintendência de Controle de Endemias-SUCEN dado continuidade a partir de 1976.…”