Intestinal parasitosis and risk factors in children from Cienfuegos province
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19402711Keywords:
child; intestinal parasites; diagnosis; prevalence; Cienfuegos; CubaAbstract
Introduction: intestinal parasite infections have a high prevalence worldwide and negatively impact the child population. In Cuba, epidemiological research shows that children are the most vulnerable group.
Objective: to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasite infections and risk factors in children in the province of Cienfuegos, Cuba.
Method: a cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 1,030 children, using a two-stage cluster sampling method, from June to September 2023. A sample from each child was analyzed and processed using three parasitological techniques. Clinical, epidemiological, and parasitological data of interest were collected through a validated questionnaire.
Results: the prevalence of intestinal parasite infections was 21.2%. The most frequent intestinal parasites were Blastocystis spp. (10.7%) and Giardia duodenalis (8.4%). The municipalities of Cruces (31.1%) and Abreu (25.6%) had the highest prevalence rates of intestinal parasite infections. There was no statistically significant association between sociodemographic factors and risk factors associated with a higher risk of intestinal parasite infection. The majority of children were asymptomatic (77.7%). There was no statistically significant association between reported symptoms and infection with these microbial agents.
Conclusions: although the prevalence of intestinal parasite infections at the provincial level was not high, it is necessary to promote prevention and control programs for these parasitic infections in the municipalities with a higher incidence.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Lyanet Muñoz González, Dionicio Mirabal Morfa, Marcos Antonio González Guirola, Fidel Ángel Núñez Fernández, Luis Enrique Jerez Puebla
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