[A logistic regression model applied to Chagas' disease]

The focus of this paper is the application of statistical models to the study of socioeconomic conditioning factors in perinatal Chagas' disease conducted in Rosario, Argentina. A case (154) and control (158) design was applied to investigate socioeconomic and cultural differences in pregnant women in Hospital Roque Sáenz Peña as to their infection status. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the importance of antecedents linked to the infection and socioeconomic and cultural factors for infection status. For pregnant women, the importance of antecedents linked to the infection was confirmed and the women's level of schooling stood out as the predominant socioeconomic condition associated with infection. Log-linear models were used to explore the associations between certain explanatory variables. This approach pointed up the most relevant associations between such factors and Chagas' disease and provided a better understanding of the framework of relationships among them.