Correlation between nutritional status and the prevalence of enteroparasitosis in children from a quilombola community in the city of Caetés, Pernambuco

Abstract

Intestinal parasitic infections affect a large part of the world population, especially in underdeveloped countries that have precarious living conditions. Brazil has a high prevalence rate and a high number of deaths, representing a major problem in children's health, as it can lead to a state of malnutrition with consequential impairment of physical and intellectual development. The objective of this study was to verify the association between intestinal parasitosis and the nutritional status of children from the Atoleiro quilombola community in the city of Caetés-PE. This was a cross-sectional study, of a quantitative nature, with the participation of 155 children, carried out between April and October 2019. The data obtained were statistically evaluated using Pearson's chi-square (X2) test in order to obtain correlation of children with the presence or absence of protozoa and helminths, reporting significant (p-value <0.05) or marginally significant (p-value <0.10) values. Those responsible were asked about the socioeconomic conditions in which they lived. Parasitological examination of feces was carried out using the techniques of Hoffmann and Kato-Katz and the nutritional status was assessed using a portable stadiometer and digital scale and classified using the weight/age, height/age, weight/height, and body mass index/age according to the Ministry of Health. Most of the children were female (n=80; 52%) and the general mean was ±5 years old. Altogether there were 110 (70.97%) positive parasitological analyses. Of these results, 77 children (70%) presented some type of protozoan, 32 (29.09%) helminths, and 1 child had polyparasitism (0.91%). It was also noticed that most children obtained an adequate height when compared to age (n=110; 70.97%). A booklet and a video in the form of a string were created with the aim of bringing information about prevention and health promotion to the community. It became evident that there are major problems related to the health conditions of the community, which is one of the factors that contributed to the emergence of parasitic infections. The high prevalence of parasitized children was associated with socioeconomic, cultural, and environmental determinants. It was noticed that the nutritional findings, such as thinness and substantial thinness, were significant, with nutritional deficiencies being a significant problem; even though there was no statistically significant association between nutritional status and parasitized children.