Abstract

ARANDO SERRANO, Judith Jakeline  and  VALDERRAMA POME, Aldo Alim. Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites in Children Population of Tamburco (Peru) Associated with Hygiene and Animal Husbandry Practices. Rev. Med. Vet. [online]. 2021, n.43, pp.61-72.  Epub Apr 20, 2022. ISSN 0122-9354.  https://doi.org/10.19052/mv.vol1.iss43.6.

Intestinal parasitic infections are one of the greatest socioeconomic and medical difficulties worldwide. The objective of this research was to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites in children and their association with hygiene and animal husbandry practices. The research was observational, basic, analytical and cross-sectional. The study population consisted of 542 primary school children from the district of Tamburco, Peru. Fecal samples were collected from 225 children of both sexes. These samples were analyzed using the direct technique with lugol and physiological saline solution. The quantitative Kato-Katz analysis was performed in the laboratory of the Micro Red de Salud Micaela Bastidas, in Tamburco. Pearson's chi-square tests, odds ratios and confidence intervals with confidence levels of 95% were performed using SPSS 23 software. The prevalence of intestinal parasites in children was 63.6% (143/225; 95% CI=57.1-70.1). Children who did not wash their hands before eating had a higher risk of infection with Blastocystis sp. (OR=20.8), Entamoeba coli (OR=16.9) and Giardia lamblia (OR=6.2) (p < 0.01). In addition, children walking barefoot were 2.1 times more at risk of becoming infected with Blastocystis sp. (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the prevalence of intestinal parasites in Tamburco children was high and was associated with the habits of not washing hands before eating and walking barefoot.

Keywords : intestinal parasites; animal husbandry; hygiene practices; risk factors; zoonoses; Tamburco.

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