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Resumen: Condiciones de vida deficientes, contaminación fecal de agua, de alimentos y del suelo favorecen la transmisión de parásitos intestinales. Para establecer asociación entre pobreza e infestación parasitaria se evaluaron aspectos socio-sanitarios (composición familiar, estrato social, vivienda), ambientales (agua, excretas) y coproparasitológicos (examen directo y kato) en 257 sujetos (2 a 18 años), de Valencia Estado Carabobo. Se encontró: Predominio de escolares en estrato IV, de estructura monofamiliar y de 5 personas por grupo; 48,2% de infestación, alta prevalencia en escolares (mono (57,3%) y poliparasitismo (52,6%). Los protozoarios fueron más prevalentes en el estrato IV (63,9%) y los helmintos en el estrato V (64,3%). No se encontró asociación estadísticamente significativa entre estrato socioeconómico por el método de Graffar- Méndez Castellano y parasitosis, pero sí entre parasitosis y ausencia de cloacas, agua no tratada, baño intradomiciliario, ausencia de piso y número de personas por familia. Predominio de protozoarios en familias de hasta 5 personas (56,6%) y helmintos en familias con más de cinco personas (78,6%). Asociación significativa entre Blastocystis hominis, Entamoeba coli y Ascaris lumbricoides y familias de más de 5 personas. Hubo estrecha asociación entre parasitosis y condiciones socio-sanitarias, ambientales y conductuales, lo que favorece la morbilidad en este grupo poblacional, perpetuando el ciclo de pobreza e infestación parasitaria. Abstract: Poor living conditions, fecal contamination of food, water and soil are factors that contribute to intestinal parasites transmission. In order to stablish association between poverty and parasite infestation, socio-sanitary (family structure, social stratum, housing), environmental (water and excreta disposition) and coproparasitological (direct and kato examination) aspects were evaluated, in 257 subjects (2-18 years old), from Valencia, Carabobo State. Findings were: High prevalence of school children, of stratum IV, of monofamiliar structure, with five persons per group. Parasite infestation was found in 48.2% of children, more prevalent in school children, with mono (53.7%) and polyparasitism (52.6%). Protozoa forms were more prevalent in stratum IV (63.9%) and helminths forms in stratum V (64.3%). There was not statistically significant association between socioeconomic strata assessed by Graffar-Méndez Castellano method and parasitic infestation, but between parasitic infestation and sociosanitary conditions (absence of sewers, non-treated water, intradomicile bath, absence of floor and number of people by family), statistically significant association was present. Predominance of protozoa in subjects from small families groups (less than five persons) was 56.6% while in children from large families groups (higher than five persons), prevalence of helminths was 78.6%. Significant association was found between Blastocystis hominis, Entamoeba coli and Ascaris lumbricoides and large families groups. It is concluded that a strong and significant association was found between parasite infestations and socio-sanitary, environmental and cultural conditions, situation that favours a high morbidity rate, which perpetuates the interactions cycle of poverty and parasite infestations.

Food purchase capacity is related to socioeconomic level, and it influences dietary quality and quantity. Changes on diet may cause alterations of nutritional status. In order to evaluate the association between socioeconomic and anthropometrics indicators to dietary adequacy in children from a poverty area, 257 children and adolescents randomly selected, from Valencia, Venezuela (2004) were assessed. Socioeconomic status was determined (SES, Graffar-Méndez), dietary adequacy (24h recalls, n=97) and anthropometrical indicators (W/A, H/A, W/H, arm circumference, fat and muscular area, tricipital skinfold and BMI) were measured. Statistical Analysis by frequency distribution, Chi2 test and Pearson correlation was performed. Boys, school children; families in poverty (IV and V stratum) and one family/home were highly prevalent. Nutritional diagnosis consisted of: 36.6% of deficit, 54.8% of normality and 8.6% of excess. Mean caloric and protein intake and adequacy were acceptable, but fiber adequacy was excessive. 41.2% of subjects had inadequate energy intake and 45.3% inadequate protein intake. Energy intake was deficient in 58.3% of normal subjects and also in those in excess, and in 46.5% of undernourished children, 52.1% of the undernourished children had excessive adequacy for fiber. There was association between fiber adequacy to energy and protein intake, age; height and muscular area, but not between energy and protein intake to socioeconomic condition. It is concluded that there was an important association between dietary intake and nutritional status but only a weak relation to SES. Evaluation of dietary intake and adequacy is useful to complement anthropometric and socioeconomic information; but care has to be taken for the possibility of under or overestimation of data reported by the interviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]