Schistosoma mansoni
is not just a physical disease, but is related to social and behavioural factors as well.
Snails of the
Biomphalaria genus are an intermediate host for
Schistosoma mansoni and infect humans through water.
The objective of this study is to classify the risk of schistosomiasis in the state of Minas Gerais (MG). We focus on
socioeconomic and demographic features, basic sanitation features, the presence of accumulated water bodies, dense
vegetation in the summer and winter seasons and related terrain characteristics. We draw on the decision tree approach
to infection risk modelling and mapping. The model robustness was properly verified. The main variables that were
selected by the procedure included the terrain’s water accumulation capacity, temperature extremes and the Human
Development Index. In addition, the model was used to generate two maps, one that included risk classification for the
entire of MG and another that included classification errors. The resulting map was 62.9% accurate.
