Risk factors for infection with Giardia duodenalis in pre-school children in the city of Salvador, Brazil.

This study of 694 children (aged 2-45mths) was carried out to identify environmental risk factors for infections with Giardia duodenalis. Variables studied included 3 social and demographic factors, 5 factors relating to the peri-domestic environment, 7 relating to the home and a score for hygiene behaviour based on structured observation. Prevalence of infection with G. duodenalis was nearly 14% (as identified from stool samples). Only 4 significant risk factors were found (i) number of children under 5yrs old in the household, (ii) rubbish not collected from the house, (iii) presence of visible sewage nearby, and (iv) absence of a toilet. Epidemiol Infect 2003 Oct;131(2): 899-906.