[Control of schistosomiasis infection in the localities of Cachoeira-Bahia, basin of the Paraguaçu, 1982-1992].

This study evaluates the effectiveness of the Schistosomiasis Control Program, PCE, in Cachoeira, state of Bahia-Brazil, in Paraguaçu Basin Area. Data comes from PCE-111 cards of SUCAM/FNS, which are routinely registered in the 111 villages identified during the study follow up, 1982-1992. The S. mansoni infection was diagnosed through Katz-Kato technique for stool exams. Temporal trends of the prevalence of infection were analyzed for each village. Four trend patterns were identified, and the most common was those of recurrence of infection prevalence (67.6%). Control of the endemics was achieved in 22.5% of the villages, while expansion trends were found in only 9.9% of them. In general, there was found a decrease in the prevalence, particularly, from 1982 to 1985, followed by an increase that do not reach the initial levels. It was observed a relative reduction on the number of villages that shows prevalence below or equal to 5%, that indicates control of the infection. It was not possible to evaluate trends of infection intensity neither the occurrence of severe shistossomiasis disease or related deaths, that may allow a more complete evaluation of this program.