RESUMO
In order to investigate the relationship between intestinal parasitism and nutritional status, stool specimens obtained from 1674 school children aged 6-13 years were examined for helminth and protozoan parasites. The findings were collated with anthropometric data [weight and height] on the same children. The prevalence of parasitic infections was 31.5%. The most common infections were with Giardia lamblia and Ascaris lumbricoides. Children infected with both helminths and protozoa showed an increased but insignificant risk of underweight relative to those without infections. The risk of stunting was found among all types of parasites as compared with children with no parasites. Also, there was a higher nonsignificant risk of wasting among those with protozoal infection, especially Giardia lamblia. Children infected with three species or more of intestinal parasitic infections were significantly underweight than non-infected children. Using stepwise logistic regression analysis, number of parasites appeared to be the most effective variable of the nutritional status of children indicated by weight for age Z score, followed by education of the mother