Relationship between Intestinal Parasitic Infections and Hygienic and Sanitary Factorsin Populations of Rio Abajo and Los Pinos villages, Rionegro, Antioquia, 2008

Abstract

Introduction

Worldwide, 80% of the parasitic gastrointestinal infectious diseases and a third of the deaths they cause result from use and consumption of unhealthy water. The lack of hygiene and the absence or malfunction of sanitary services are reasons for which diarrhea continues to be an important health problem in developing countries.

Objective

To study the relationship between presence of gastrointestinal parasitic infections in populations of Rio Abajo – Los Pinos villages and hygienic and sanitary factors.

Materials and methods

A descriptive study with cross-sectional analysis was conducted for the populations of Rio Abajo, Los Pinos villages. Coprologic tests were done for all individuals. Direct tests in fresh and lugol and concentration with formaldehyde–ether technique were performed in the Parasitological Laboratory of the School of Medicine in the Universidad de Antioquia.

Results

The frequency of gastrointestinal parasitic infections was 74,4% and 78,6% in Rio Abajo and Los Pinos villages, respectively. Significant association by chi squared test was observed between gastrointestinal parasitic infections and Wash hands before eating (p<0.013), garbage storage (p<0.001) and abdominalpain (p<0.0345).

Blastocystis spp. detection was associated with with vomit (p<0.0138), nausea (p<0.0061), stomach pain (p<0.0313), garbage storage (p<0.0005) and water connections (p<0.0219).

Conclusions

More studies are needed on Blastocystis spp. pathogenicity, recognition and discrimination in our population in order to assess their virulence levels.