To compare the epidemiological profile and socioeconomic factors
associated to the infection by Schistosoma mansoni in a rural and an
urban endemic area a cross-sectional study was performed in Agua Branca de
Minas (rural area) and Bela Fama (urban area), both situated in the State
of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Two hundred and eighty eight individuals were
surveyed in the rural area and 787 in the urban area. Water contact and
socioeconomic questionnaires were used to identify risk factors for the
infection. The prevalences of 38.8% and 9.7% and the geometric mean of eggs
per gram of faeces of 117.8 and 62.3 were found in the rural and urban
areas, respectively. By multivariate statistical analysis age groups over
nine years old and previous specific treatment were associated with the
infection in rural area. In urban area age over nine years old, low quality
housing, weekly fishing and swimming were associated after adjustment by
logistic regression.
