02126nas a2200205   4500000000100000008004100001100001500042700001300057700001200070700001500082700001800097700001200115700001300127700001500140245015700155300001100312490000600323520157700329022001401906       2015                            d1 aBrandão E1 aBonfim C1 aAlves A1 aOliveira C1 aMontenegro CE1 aCosta T1 aMaciel A1 aMedeiros Z00aLymphatic filariasis among children and adolescents: spatial identification via socio-environmental indicators to define priority areas for elimination.  a324-310 v73 a<p><strong>BACKGROUND: </strong>The occurrence of lymphatic filariasis (LF) and its transmission dynamics among children and adolescents are still not clearly elucidated. The aim of this study was to describe the spatial distribution of microfilaremia and its relationship with socio-environmental variables, thereby identifying areas at greater risk of transmission.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>An ecological study was conducted, in which the analysis unit was formed by districts of the municipality of Jaboatão dos Guararapes in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. The data source was a parasitological survey. Inadequate sewage disposal, number of people in the household and income of between 0.5 and 1 minimum salary were used to construct the socio-environmental indicator. The districts were then grouped according to the indicator into three risk strata, using the k-means clustering technique.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>In the study, 96/8670 (1.1%) of the population were found to present microfilaremia. The high-risk stratum had a mean prevalence rate of 1.9% and a risk of 2.56 (p&lt;0.05), in relation to the low-risk stratum. The middle stratum grouped the households that presented an intermediate risk of transmission, with a prevalence rate of 1.92%.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSIONS: </strong>The indicator used is a promising tool that enables the precise measurement of the relationship between social deprivation and the prevalence of filarial infection among children. Thus, it can be used to plan control and elimination actions.</p>
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