[Sociodemographic and behavioral factors related to schistosomiasis in a rural village of the sugar cane belt in Pernambuco State, Brazil]

Failure of intensive chemotherapy to control schistosomiasis in a highly endemic area of Northeast Brazil led to the hypothesis that sociodemographic and/or behavioral variables could be involved in the persistent transmission. A univariate analysis of such variables in relation to infection by Schistosoma mansoni showed that water contact patterns for recreation and personal hygiene are important risk factors in the area. However, sociodemographic variables were not related to infection, probably because the local population lives under evenly precarious socioeconomic and sanitary conditions. We thus recommend that chemotherapy be combined with other measures like snail control, health education, and improved sanitation and water supply.