Prevalence of intestinal parasitism and associated factors in a village on the Colombian Atlantic Coast

Objectives Determining the prevalence of intestinal parasitism and identifying the associated risk factors in the village of Loma Arena, Bolivar department, Colombia. Methodology The community's sanitary and educational conditions were evaluated by using a questionnaire which was applied to each family group. Two stool samples obtained by spontaneous evacuation, on two different days, were gathered from each participating person for the coproparasitological study. The coprological test involved direct examination in saline physiological solution and temporary staining with Lugol's solution and the formol-ether concentration method. Results It was found that 92 % of the population was parasitised, 92 % of them with at least one pathogenic parasite. Polyparasitism was very important (89,2 %); a maximum of 7 species per host was found. Helminth and protozoa coinfection was frequent (64 %). There was only 0,9 % teniosis prevalence. There was a significant association between symptomatology and parasite presence (p< 0.05), though such relationship was not seen with potentially pathogenic parasites (with the exception of Trichuris trichura and abdominal pain). The statistical analysis did not reveal any relationship between parasitism and educational level or sanitary habits. Conclusion The uniform distribution of most intestinal parasites amongst the five agegroups evaluated showed that people in Loma Arena were evenly exposed to sources of infection in all age-groups.