Introduction

Chagas disease is a systemic infection caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. There is evidence that environmental factors favor the maintenance of the infection.

Objective

To understand the spatial distribution patterns of risk, and environmental and socioeconomic factors that favour the spread of Chagas disease.

Material and methods

Data on Chagas disease incidence in the Huasteca Potosina were collected during 2003-2012 and then analyzed by a Bayesian method of spatial regression.

Results

A clear pattern of spatial distribution of incidence of the disease in the Huasteca was observed, and it was significantly correlated with the final multivariate regression model using variables such as the minimum temperature, % of households with dirt floors, % of households without running water, % of population with three years and over speaking indigenous languages only, % of population over 15 years illiterate, % entitled to health care, % of households with some level of overcrowding and % of households with basic services.

Conclusions

The analysis showed that the indigenous population is the most affected by Chagas disease and that was related to lack to basic services (health, education, housing), therefore, those conditions favor not only the presence of the vector but also the disease. In the Huasteca, this population lives in areas of difficult access, which hinders the implementation of appropriate programs to control the vector and the infection.