Advisory Committee Chair
Nalini Sathiakumar
Advisory Committee Members
Leslie McClure
Akhlaque Haque
Jeffery Luvall
Ben Zaitchik
Document Type
Dissertation
Date of Award
2014
Degree Name by School
Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) School of Public Health
Abstract
The incidence of dengue fever has increased exponentially in Sri Lanka, from 24.4 cases per 100,000 in 2003 to 165.3 per 100,000 population in 2013. Despite concerted effort by the Sri Lankan government, dengue control remains a challenge in the country, indicating a need for novel approach for dengue prevention and control. The aim of this research was to identify environmental risk factors that may be associated with dengue incidence rate at the Gram Niladhari Divisions level (smallest administrative unit) in Colombo city, Sri Lanka, using geospatial tools such as remote sensing and geographic information system. These factors included climate variables, land cover classes, population demographics and housing characteristics. Data on potential risk factors were obtained from several sources including remotely sensed data, meteorology department and publicly available census data. Data on dengue cases were obtained from Colombo municipal council, Department of Public Health for period between 2005 and 2011. The analysis was conducted in two parts: part I evaluated the relationship between mean temperature and cumulative rainfall and dengue incidence, using generalized linear regression; part II evaluated the relationship between local environmental factors such as land cover, population and housing characteristics and dengue incidence rate, using spatial (geographic weighted regression) and non-spatial analysis (Poisson regression). The results of the study found that: 1) there is a weak association between weekly temperature and rainfall and increased risk of dengue; 2) determined spatial-temporal risk of dengue incidence rate using the Getis-Ord Gi* statistic; and 3) local environmental factors such as decreased piped-water supply, increased brick-walled housing, decreased housing density and increased vegetation were significantly associated with high incidence of dengue fever cases. Results of the study are in agreement with several other studies conducted previously however, they are novel in Sri Lanka. The application geospatial tools for data management and analysis contributes to the evidence supporting routine use of these tools in dengue research. The study paves way for future work using methods applied in this study to targeted interventions to prevent and control dengue in high risk areas in the country and in the region.
Recommended Citation
Tipre, Meghan, "Evaluation Of Environmental Factors And Dengue Fever In Sri Lanka Using Geospatial Tools" (2014). All ETDs from UAB. 3152.
https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/etd-collection/3152