Background and purpose: So far, several studies have been done on the prevalence of intestinal
parasites in Mazandaran province, Iran, but no comprehensive study used Geographic Information System
(GIS) to investigate all effective factors on the epidemiology of these parasites. The aim of this study was to
investigate the intestinal parasites in people residing in West of Mazandaran province using GIS.
Materials and methods: This study was conducted in 1120 individuals attending the health
centers in West of Mazandaran province. The samples were analyzed using direct methods, formalin -
ether, trichrome staining, and modified acid fast. Data analysis was done in SPSS V18 and Arc GIS 9.3.
Results: The prevalence of intestinal parasites was 12.8% in the population studied. The most
prevalent protozoa were Blastocystis hominis (5.8%) and among helminthic infections Strongyloides
stercoralis (0.53%) were found to be more prevalent. Statistical analysis showed a significant relationship
between the prevalence of intestinal parasites and geographic and demographic risk factors including
location, drinking water, income level, temperature, and altitude. Prevalence mapping showed Tonekabon
as a high-risk region for intestinal parasites.
Conclusion: Temperature and altitude along with demographic factors play an important role in
the spread of parasitic diseases. Water purification system, improving sanitation in high-risk areas, and
basic health training especially in rural areas can help in decreasing the rate of this public health problem.