RISK FACTOR ANALYSIS ASSOCIATED WITH TAENIA SOLIUM INFECTION IN TRIBAL-VS-NON TRIBAL-VS- HARIZAN COMMUNITY IN ASSAM, NORTHEAST INDIA.

The effect of socio-economy, customs and sanitation levels on the prevalence of Taenia solium infection was studied in people belonging to three different cultural groups, i.e., tribal, non-tribal and harijan in the Nagaon, Morigaon and Karbi Anglong district of Assam, Northeast India. A total of 150 (50 from each district) samples were surveyed by questionnaire and stool sample of each respondent was also examined. In the study, taeniasis was found to be 12.00 per cent (18 out of 150). Highest infection (15.62%) was found in harijan community and lowest (7.40%) in non-tribals. Effect of levels of sanitation, food habits, literacy status and the sources of income on the prevalence of taeniasis was studied irrespective of cultural groups. In all the Taenia positive cases, the effect of levels of sanitation and food habits was highly significant (P<0.01) but the levels of literacy status had only significant effect (P<0.05). Though, taeniasis was related to the sources of income, yet, the effect was nonsignificant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]