Integral strategy to assess intestinal parasitism, nutritional status and associated risk factors among children from the Argentinian Atlantic Forest, at a tri-border area of Latin America

RIVERO, MARÍA ROMINA; SALAS, MARTÍN; DE ANGELO, CARLOS

Dubai

Conferencia; Global Pediatrics and Child Health Conference; 2020

Global Scientific Events Academy

Infectious diseases caused by intestinal parasites are a major concern for public health,especially in children from disadvantaged populations of tropical and subtropical areas. Weexamined the presence and co-infection of parasites in humans conjointly with nutritionalcondition and risk associated factors. Parasitic environmental contamination andcharacteristics of the persistence were also explored. Additionally, an integral healtheducation strategy on prevention of intestinal parasites based on children perceptions werecarried out.Our work represents the major survey developed in the region. We evidenced that thecommunity is affected by the double burden of malnutrition and parasitoses.High prevalence and co-infection was detected in the children population as well as in theirenvironment. Alarming values were register to indigenous communities of the area. Wefound that there is a knowledge gap in many aspects of parasite biology and ecology, andtherefore on the risk of infection and acquisition mechanisms.Our work highlight the importance of promoting public policies to improve sanitation,hygiene education access, community deworming programs, and quality nutrition on aregular basis of intercultural approaches. To overcome the challenges that pose public healthinterventions on nutrition and infectious diseases requires sustained and multifactorial effortsin the area.