Malarial indexes as risk factors existing in Pet茅n Norte district, Guatemala

[摘要] Background: Over 37 % of the population in the Americas is living in malaria-affected areas, which is a serious health problem for mankind. Objective: to describe the main entomological and epidemiological indicators that support the redefinition of stratified areas with malarial risk at different levels of exposure in a health area of Guatemala´s northern region from 1999 to 2000. Methods: factorial analysis was made following Kaiser´s criterion for the selection of the number of main components. A t test for depending samples and a discriminating analysis of included parameters to determine the highest incidental variable(s) in the municipalities under study were made. In order to verify if differentiated municipal epidemiological studies were necessary, a cluster analysis was made. Results: a reduction of epidemiological indications was reported in 2000 such as index of positive plates t= 5,07159; p= 0,003862) and annual Plasmodium vivax index (t= 3,48982; p= 0,0175) together with a more pronounced morbidity reduction in the annual parasitic index, all of which allowed redefining the locations according to existing risks. Plasmodium vivax was the main cause of morbidity in both years and P. falciparum turned to be the most resistant to all the control actions. Cluster analyses proved a clear-cut division of the district into two groups; annual Plasmodium vivax index was the most discriminatory (Wilk´s lambda(l)= 0,14778, p< 0,008631). Five anopheline species were detected, being Anopheles albimanus (62 L/m2) in seasonal pools and An. eiseni (17,8 L/m2) the most abundant. Conclusions: As a result of the implemented strategy, no outbreak has occurred for two years in spite of this being an endemic area. Improvement and strengthening of intersectoral and intrasectoral relationships are encouraged to support the reduction of the economic burden of the anti-vector control program.

[学科分类] 传染病学

[关键词] : Malaria;Culicidae;communicable diseases;epidemiology;epidemiological surveillance;vector control;Guatemala