EPIDEMIOLOGIC CHARACTERISTICS OF SCHISTOSOMA-MANSONI INFECTION IN RURAL AND URBAN ENDEMIC AREAS OF MINAS-GERAIS, BRAZIL

To compare the epidemiological profile and socioeconomic factors assoc iated to the infection by Schistosoma mansoni in a rural and an urban endemic area a cross-sectional study was performed in Agua Branca de M inas (rural area) and Bela Fama (urban area), both situated in the sta te of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Two hundred and eighty-eight individuals w ere surveyed in the rural area and 787 in the urban area. Water contac t and socioeconomic questionnaires were used to identify risk factors for the infection. The prevalances of 38.8% and 9.7% and the geometric mean of eggs per gram of faeces of 117.8 and 62.3 were found in the r ural and urban areas, respectively. By multivariate statistical analys is age groups over nine years old and previous specific treatment were associated with the infection in rural area. Inn urban area age over nine years old, low quality housing, weekly fishing and swimming were associated after adjustment by logistic regression.