Household social determinants of ascariasis and trichuriasis in North Central Venezuela

Abstract Ascariasis and trichuriasis are highly prevalent parasitoses in tropical countries caused by Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura , respectively. Their prevalence is associated with poor sanitation and hygiene, among other biological and social factors. In this study, the associations of household social determinants with these soil-transmitted helminthiases in North Central Venezuela was assessed in the context of a National Study on Human Growth and Development (SENACREDH). This was a probabilistic, stratified, cross-sectional survey with a sample of 3388 individuals that weighted represents 4 675 433 inhabitants from the region. The prevalence of ascariasis and trichuriasis was 3.73% and 1.13%, respectively. In the univariate and multivariate analyses, these prevalences were significantly higher in those living in vulnerable houses [adjusted OR (AOR) = 1.479, 95% CI 1.428–1.532; and AOR = 10.519, 95% CI 9.971–11.097, respectively], houses located in rural areas (AOR = 2.067, 95% CI 2.035–2.101; and AOR = 1.918, 95% CI 1.868–1.970, respectively) and houses with a soil floor (AOR = 5.027, 95% CI 4.895–5.162; and AOR = 5.190, 95% CI 4.944–5.448, respectively), among other factors. People living in rural households with inappropriate building materials, insufficient basic public services such as water and waste disposal, and surrounding disease-prone environments are at higher risk of acquiring A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura infections.