[Enteroparasitism, hygiene and environmental sanitation in under-aged from six indigenous communities. Cali-Colombia].

OBJECTIVE: Determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitism and associated factors in indigenous children between 5 and 14 years, living in the city of Cali, Colombia.

METHODOLOGY: 63 children aged 5 to 14 were included. At least two fecal samples were taken to which two different tests were applied, first one directly and the other one for concentration: Ziehl-Neelsen modified and Kato Katz. In order to collect socio-demographic and epidemiological interest data, a survey was done. The results of the survey were compared through a process of observation at 50.0 % of the minors' homes. Proportions and ratios were calculated for qualitative variables, χ(2) and Fischer Exact Test (considering a value of p ≤ 0.05 as statistically significant) was used for quantitative measures of the main trend and the relation between variables.

RESULTS: 84.0 % of the minors were infected, predominantly by protozoa 71.0 %. Over 50.0 % of those samples were considered as multiple parasitism; the predominant parasites were E histolytica/dispar (25.0 %) and the guest was Endolimax nana (60.0 %). Statistically significant association was observed between parasitism, abdominal pain (Test χ(2), p ≤ 0.05) and non-deworming of domestic animals (Test Fisher's p ≤ 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of intestinal parasitism was high, as well as the risk factors associated with this. Association with studied factors was evidenced.