Parasitoses intestinais se associam a menores índices de peso e estatura em escolares de baixo estrato socioeconômico Intestinal parasitoses are associated with lower values of weight and height in school-aged children from low socioeconomic level

Objective: To evaluate the association between the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis with socioeconomic and environmental factors, as well as with weight, height and hemoglobin levels in two different socioeconomic groups of children in Osasco (SP), Brazil. Methods: This cross-sectional study compared 84 chil- dren aged from six to ten years old from a slum area without proper sanitation and poor housing with 35 children attend- ing private school with good socioeconomic level and hous- ing conditions in the same city. Children with diarrhea for less than 30 days or severe illness were excluded. A standard questionnaire was applied for assessing social and environ- mental conditions. The nutritional assessment was done by Z scores for weight for age, height for age and body mass index. Capillary blood hemoglobin determination was done by HemoCue ® method and intestinal parasitosis examina-