Factors associated with Chagas disease among blood donors in Brazilian Northeast region.

BACKGROUND: Despite the intensification of Chagas disease control in Brazil, around 1980s and 1990s, the transmission still occurs. The aim of this study was to identify the factors associated with Chagas disease among blood donors in Piaui State, Brazilian Northeast Region from 2004 to 2013.

METHODOLOGY: Records of 597 blood donors from Management System in Hemotherapy Services and Laboratory Environment Manager System of Piaui were studied. Sociodemographic variables and serological tests results for Chagas disease's confirmation were analyzed using adjusted multiple logistic regression and odds ratio (OR) evaluation.

RESULTS: The frequency of serological test confirming Chagas disease was 15.6%. Multivariate analysis showed that the most important associated factors were among blood donors who were born until 1960 (OR 5.1; 95%; CI 1.95-13.14), with low educational level (OR 2.8; 95%; CI 0.75-10.29), who lives in cities with ≤50% of urbanization rate (OR 3.5; 95%; CI 1.42-8.72) and first-time blood donors (OR 3.0; 95%; CI 1.74-5.23).

CONCLUSIONS: Unfortunately, the factors associated with Chagas disease are still the same pointed out in the scientific literature of decades ago. Our results are in line with the postulate of the 2nd Brazilian Consensus on Chagas disease, regarding the need to develop research that presents new scientific evidence, contributing not only to the Brazilian scenario but also to Latin America.