Inquérito coproparasitológico e ações de educação em saúde em escolas da rede pública de três municípios de Pernambuco

Abstract

Enteroparasites are a public health problem, since they are endemic in many regions of the country. Infections caused by intestinal parasites are considered socioeconomic indicators of the population and maybe associated with several determinants,suchas absence or precariousness of basic sanitation, contaminated food and water, and some sociocultural factors. In this context, the objective of this study was to identify the intestinal parasites of school children from the public schools of three municipalities of the state and to carry out health education actions to reduce contamination by these parasites. A total of 650 stool specimens of schoolchildren of both sexes and aged 3 to 15 years were analyzed from the public school system of the municipalities of Camocim de São Félix, Salgadinho and Tupanatinga, which were processed by sedimentation methods spontaneous and Kato Katz (Helm Test Bio-Manguinhos). Of the analyzed samples, the following intestinal parasites were diagnosed in 263 (40.46%): Ascaris lumbricoides (30,30%), Giardia duodenalis (4,61%), Entamoeba histolytica (2%), Hymenolepis nana , Schistosoma mansoni (0.30%), Hookworms (0.30%),Enterobiusvermicularis(0.30%)andTaeniasp.(0.15%).Theprevalencesin the municipalities studied were: Salgadinho 94,81%, Camocim de São Félix 15,41% and Tupanatinga 12,79%. In the urban area, the prevalence was higher (41.97%). Based on the results, actions were carried out to promote health through the production of materials and recreational activities aimedat the prevention of enteroparasitoses. In addition to health education activities, investments are needed to expand the coverage of basic sanitation and, thus, reduce the impact of intestinal parasites on the health of the population.