DETERMINANTS OF INFECTION WITH SCHISTOSOMIASIS HAEMATOBIA USING LOGISTIC-REGRESSION

A population-based stratified random sample of 10,039 inhabitants of r ural communities in Minya Governorate, Egypt, were evaluated for risk factors for Schistosoma haematobium infection using multivariate analy sis, Data were obtained by personal interview recording demographics, information on exposure to canal water, history of infection, and othe r risk factors for infection and examining urine samples for S. haemat obium ova. Logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for confoun ders while assessing the role of each risk factor for infection. Using logistic regression allowed detection of several confounders and inte ractions which influenced other independent variables. Differences in exposure patterns to canal water among age and gender subgroups explai ned only a small portion of the variation in infection rates, thus fav oring the alternative explanation: development of age-acquired immunit y. The association of age with reduced prevalence of S. haematobium wa s the only relationship increasing (odds ratio [OR] = 2.95-4.30) with logistic regression. Male gender was a risk factor for infection but d id not increase with logistic regression (OR = 2.33-2.03). The protect ive effects of education, only noted in schoolage children (OR = 0.59- 0.51), were believed to be due to a school-based screening and treatme nt program.