Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites and Risk Factors in Children in the Central Region of Cuba, 2023
Keywords:
children; intestinal parasites; prevalence; risk factors; central region; Cuba.Abstract
Introduction: Intestinal parasitic infections are a significant cause of morbidity in children worldwide; therefore, it is important to understand their patterns in each specific region.
Objective: To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites and associated risk factors in children aged 1 to 14 years in the central region of Cuba.
Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional observational study was conducted from June to September 2023, involving children from the country’s five central provinces. A total of 5,750 children were enrolled; stool samples were collected and analyzed using three different parasitological techniques, and clinical-epidemiological data were gathered via a questionnaire.
Results: A total of 2.134 children were found to be infected (a prevalence of 37.1%): 27.83% with pathogenic protozoa, 14.10% with commensal organisms, and 0.63% with helminths. The most frequent intestinal parasites and commensals were Blastocystis spp. (21.4%), Endolimax nana (10.1%), and Giardia duodenalis (9.6%). The province of Camagüey reported the highest rate of intestinal parasitic infection (58.9%), while Cienfuegos reported the lowest (21.2%). Walking barefoot on soil, contact with animals, nail-biting, and thumb-sucking or pacifier use were identified as factors that increased the risk of these infections.
Conclusions: The lower prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in this region, compared to previous studies, may be related to the post-COVID-19 period. The differences observed among the provinces indicate the need to direct prevention and educational intervention measures, with emphasis on areas with higher prevalence rates.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Luis Enrique Jerez Puebla, Fidel Ángel Núñez Fernández, Dora Enma Ginorio Gavito, María de los Ángeles Venero León, Delmis Pantoja Viamonte, Delmis Alvarez Gainza, Estrella Caridad Revés González, María de Lourdes Sánchez Álvarez, Lyanet Muñoz Gonzáalez, Juan Carlos Ibar Enriquez, Nestor Navarro Vega, Laidelys Alemán Veliz, Agnie Fernández Gonzalez, Annia Fong González
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