The importance of age and water contact patterns in relation to Schistosoma haematobium infection

Abstract

Data obtained by Dalton & Pole in 1978 were analysed in order to assess the relative importance of age and water contact patterns in explaining the variations in level of infection with Schistosoma haematobium observed among their study population. It was found that age and sex were the only two significant factors, and that the information about an individual's water contact pattern contained in the data was of no further help in predicting his level of infection. This conclusion is in marked opposition to that reached by Dalton & Pole.