Risk of XXXX in Aucklanders: a case-control study.

@entity1 @entity281 @entity7014 @entity344
BACKGROUND: Giardia is one of the leading protozoal causes of @entity1 @entity344 . It is prevalent in both developed and developing countries. Currently, @entity7014 is the most commonly notified waterborne disease in New Zealand. The aim of the study was to identify potentially modifiable risk factors for @entity281 in the adult population in Auckland. METHODS: This case-control study involved 183 Giardia-positive cases and 336 randomly selected controls, aged between 15 and 64 years. Exposure information was collected retrospectively over the telephone for the 21 days preceding the date of onset of symptoms. Both univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were carried out. RESULTS: The majority of cases were in the 25-44-year age group and in the New Zealand European ethnic group. Housewives and nursing mothers were at significant risk of the disease (odds ratio (OR)=2.06; 95% CI=1.4-3.74), as were the occupational groups exposed to @entity1 wastes (OR=4.04, 95% CI=1.85-8.85). Consumption of drinking water from New Zealand supplies other than metropolitan mains supplies (OR=2.11, 95% CI=1.36-3.27) or from sources outside New Zealand (OR=7.97, 95% CI=4.20-15.12) represented a significantly higher risk, as did traveling (OR=7.57, 95% CI=4.03-14.23) and swimming in pools or fresh water at least once a week (OR=2.04, 95% CI= 1.33-3.12). CONCLUSIONS: The study identified potentially modifiable risk factors for @entity281 . These findings should be investigated further in different groups and settings to ensure better protection of the public health.
