Ocorrência de Ascaris lumbricoides em mulheres grávidas atendidas nos Centros de Saúde dos distritos de KaTembe e Moamba, Província de Maputo, Moçambique

Abstract

Intestinal parasite infections in pregnant women have been associated with severe adverse outcomes, such as anemia and low birth weight. Women living in low- and middle-income countries are at higher risk of acquiring A. lumbricoides infections, which places both mother and baby at increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of Ascaris lumbricoides infections in pregnant women treated at the health centers of KaTembe and Moamba. Methodology: A cross-sectional, prospective, quantitative study was conducted. The participants were 200 pregnant women, 100 in each district, who presented for antenatal consultations at the health centers mentioned during the study. Sociodemographic variables and factors associated with the occurrence of Ascaris lumbricoides were obtained through structured questionnaires and the Kato-Katz method was used to determine the occurrence of Ascaris lumbricoides. The data were organized in Microsoft Office Excel 2016 and analyzed in SPSS and STATA, p-values ​​<0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: The overall occurrence of Ascaris lumbricoides infection was 1.5%, with 3% for the KaTembe district and no positive cases were found in the Moamba district. The analysis revealed no statistically significant association (p>0.05) between the occurrence of A. lumbricoides infection and the level of education, gestation time, type of bathroom, water source and treatment. Conclusions: The results of the study indicate that infections by A. lumbricoides in pregnant women have a significant occurrence in the KaTembe district, which reinforces the need for additional control measures aimed at improving basic sanitation and promoting health education for pregnant women, as well as a broader scope of antiparasitic treatment. (TRADUÇAO NOSSA)