Soil transmitted helminthiasis in indigenous groups. A community cross sectional study in the Amazonian southern border region of Ecuador.
BACKGROUND
Rural communities in the Amazonian southern border of Ecuador have benefited from governmental social programmes over the past 9 years, which have addressed, among other things, diseases associated with poverty, such as soil transmitted helminth infections. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of geohelminth infection and several factors associated with it in these communities.


METHODS
This was a cross sectional study in two indigenous communities of the Amazonian southern border of Ecuador. The data were analysed at both the household and individual levels.


RESULTS
At the individual level, the prevalence of geohelminth infection reached 46.9% (95% CI 39.5% to 54.2%), with no differences in terms of gender, age, temporary migration movements or previous chemoprophylaxis. In 72.9% of households, one or more members were infected. Receiving subsidies and overcrowding were associated with the presence of helminths.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of geohelminth infection was high. Our study suggests that it is necessary to conduct studies focusing on communities, and not simply on captive groups, such as schoolchildren, with the object of proposing more suitable and effective strategies to control this problem.
['Romero-Sandoval|Natalia|N|', 'Ortiz-Rico|Claudia|C|', 'Sánchez-Pérez|Héctor Javier|HJ|', 'Valdivieso|Daniel|D|', 'Sandoval|Carlos|C|', 'Pástor|Jacob|J|', 'Martín|Miguel|M|']
D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D000818:Animals D002648:Child D002675:Child, Preschool D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D004484:Ecuador D005191:Family Characteristics D005260:Female D006373:Helminthiasis D006376:Helminths D006801:Humans D007199:Indians, South American D008297:Male D011156:Population Density D011203:Poverty D015995:Prevalence D012111:Residence Characteristics D012307:Risk Factors D012424:Rural Population D012987:Soil D055815:Young Adult
Ecuador helminths chemoprophylaxis indigenous population