Nutritional Status and Sanitary Conditions Associated with Intestinal Parasitosis in Infants from a Cartagena de Indias Foundation

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.37.2.618.92

Keywords:

Parasites, Nutritional status, Sanitary profiles, Children

Abstract

Objective: To measure the prevalence of intestinal parasites, and to establish possible associations with the nutritional status and sanitary conditions of the infants of the Remanso de Amor foundation.

Materials and methods: 34 infants, 2 to 6 years of age, underwent stool examination
by concentration and modified Ziehl-Neelsen technique. Nutritional status was determined from indicators of body dimension: Weight / Age, Weight / Height, Height / Age. The groups were compared using the chi-square test of hypothesis of independence, and odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals.


Results: The prevalence of intestinal parasites was 38,2% (95% CI = 21,0 – 55,4), with Giardia lamblia being the most prevalent parasite. The nutritional status and housing conditions were not associated with parasitosis (p > 0,05). That the caregiver does not wash their hands before cooking (OR = 1,650) or after going to the bathroom (OR = 2,750), that
the infant does not wash their hands after defecating (OR = 2,750) or before consuming any
food (OR = 1,650), the infant’s consumption of raw or half-cooked meat (OR = 3,333) and
playing on the ground (OR = 1,764), were found to be significant risk factors for parasitosis.


Conclusions: Nutritional status and housing conditions were not associated with parasitosis, although some daily practices of the caregiver and infant were shown to be a significant risk factor for parasitosis.

 

Author Biographies

  • Diana Yaneth Duarte Amador, Corporación Universitaria Rafael Núñez.

    Bacterióloga, Universidad San Buenaventura, especialista en Microbiología clínica,
    Institución Universitaria Colegio Mayor de Antioquia, maestrante en Microbiología, Universidad de Cartagena. Docente programa de Medicina, Corporación Universitaria Rafael Núñez.

  • Sergio Luis Flórez Vargas, Corporación Universitaria Rafael Núñez.

    Estudiante de IX semestre del programa de Medicina, Corporación universitaria Rafael Núñez. Semillero GINUMED.

  • María José Espitia Reyes, Corporación Universitaria Rafael Núñez.

    Estudiante de IX semestre del programa de Medicina, Corporación universitaria Rafael Núñez. Semillero GINUMED.

  • Geraldine Espinosa Fernandez, Corporación Universitaria Rafael Núñez.

    Estudiante de IX semestre del programa de Medicina, Corporación universitaria Rafael Núñez. Semillero
    GINUMED.

  • Carlos Alberto Torres Madrid, Corporación Universitaria Rafael Núñez

    Químico, Universidad de Cartagena, magíster en Química, Universidad de Cartagena.
    Docente programa de Medicina, Corporación Universitaria Rafael Núñez.

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Published

2022-01-19

Issue

Section

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

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