Socio-demographic influences on the prevalence of enteric helminth and protozoan infections in newly arrived migrant workers in Qatar

Abstract

Background Intestinal parasitosis is a major concern for public health, especially in children from middle and low-income populations of tropical and subtropical areas. In this study, we explored the environmental and socio-demographic characteristics of immigrants in Doha Qatar, that might explain the persistence of the parasites that they harbor.Methodology This cross-sectional survey was conducted among 2,486 newly arrived expatriates and those who visited Qatar previously during the period 2012-2014. Through questionnaires and census data, we characterised the socio-demographics conditions at an individual, family and neighborhood levels.Results Combined protozoan infections were significantly associated with immigrants arriving in Doha for the first time. In univariate loglinear statistical models fitted in phase 1 of the analysis significant associations were observed between the prevalence of combined protozoan infections and personal and familial factors that included religion, the level of education of subjects, both parents' educational levels and their jobs, and number of siblings. Furthermore, environmental effects on the prevalence of protozoan infections included the country of origin; the floor of the house, toilet type, household content index, provision of household water, arable farming background showed a strong association with protozoan infections as well. However in phase 2, multifactorial binary logistic generalized linear models focusing only on the significant effects identified in phase 1, showed that only five factors retained significance (age class, floor of house, household contents index, father's education, and number of siblings). The only factors that had a significant effect on the prevalence of helminth infections were the subjects age class and the mother's educational level.Conclusion The prevalence of intestinal protozoan parasites among immigrants to Qatar is clearly multifactorial in origin, determined by key familial relationships of subjects and also the environment in which the subjects lived prior to their arrival in Qatar. Moreover our results suggest that screening protocols for applicants for visas/work permits need to be revised giving more careful attention to the intestinal protozoan infections that potential immigrants may harbor.