An analysis of individual, household, and environmental risk factors for intestinal helminth infection among children in Qena Governorate, Upper Egypt

During 1994 a cross-sectional survey was carried out on a sample representa tive of the population in Qena Governorate, Upper Egypt, to investigate the relationship between intestinal helminthic infection among children and a wide range of variables (demographic, behavioural, cultural, socioeconomic, and environmental). Data were collected by direct observation and by admin istering a questionnaire to mothers in charge of the household in a sample of 768 households representative of the entire population in the governorat e, A stool sample survey was conducted at the same time on all children 2-1 2 years of age living in the selected households (n = 2657), Diagnosis of i ntestinal helminths was made on the basis of the Kato-Katz thick-smear tech nique. After univariate analyses, conducted to define associations among in dividual, familial, and community variables and prevalence of infection, th e relevant variables were included in a multivariate logistic model to asse ss the importance of each factor as an independent determinant of infection . Several factors were independently associated with increased risk of inte stinal helminth infection. In particular, the age of the child (between 4 a nd 5 years) (individual), the age of marriage for the mother (cultural), ty pe of garbage disposal (household), and type of settlement (environmental) gave the highest predictive value for infection. The present results are co nsistent with those of former studies and highlight the importance of a mul tisectoral approach in the control of intestinal helminth infection.