Abstract

Inhabitants of a rural community in Mexico were analyzed for intestinal parasites, 34% of the 115 people studied were positive by Faust’s technique; stream water was also analyzed for parasites, 4/7 sites were positive and these were located near the natural source of drinking water. A questionnaire with social, health and demographic variables was applied to heads of households in search of associations with intestinal parasites. Statistical significant data were having had parasites in the past, being less than 13 years of age and eating unwashed food. A dendogram of Euclidian distances showed two clades; one associated to protection and the other one to risk. Unfortunately, the prevalence of protozoa found in the present study has not changed from previous reports obtained in other rural communities of central Mexico. Our results suggest that health authorities should incorporate health education, anti-protozoa drugs and clean natural water sources as part of the control programs.

Key words: Community study, intestinal parasites, rural Mexico.