RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of soil-transmitted helminthes control through mass deworming and latrine improvement in rural areas. METHODS: The data including mass deworming (1998-2000) and latrine improvement (2001-2010) were collected, summarized and analyzed in Danyang City. The infection rate of the soil-transmitted helminthes was monitored annually by using Kato-Katz method from 2001 to 2010. In addition, 2 villages with the improved latrines strategy and one village without the strategy were selected for hygienic evaluation. RESULTS: Totally 1 130 000 person-times of mass deworming were carried out in Danyang City from 1998 to 2000, and the infection rate of soil transmitted helminthes of human was decreased from 40.82% to 1.10%. The infection rate (2.49%-4.81%) was bounced in the first five years (from 2001 to 2005) after mass deworming, while it gradually declined in the following five years (from 2006 to 2010) and maintained at a low level (0.07%-0.52%), and there was a significant difference between the average infection rates during the above two stages (χ2 = 353.83, P < 0.01). There was a negative correlation between the coverage rate of harmless latrine and the infection rate (r = -0.83, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The mass deworming and latrine improvement are effective measures for the control of soil-trans-mitted helminthes infection in rural areas.