This paper is in the following e-collection/theme issue:

EMPHNET 7th Regional Conference 2021: “Towards Public Health Resilience in the EMR: Breaking Barriers” (62)

Published on in Vol 8, No 1 (2022): Jan-Dec

Preprints (earlier versions) of this paper are available at https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/36641, first published .
Risk Factors Associated With Dengue in District Khyber, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, From September 2 to November 24, 2019: Case-Control Study

Risk Factors Associated With Dengue in District Khyber, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, From September 2 to November 24, 2019: Case-Control Study

Risk Factors Associated With Dengue in District Khyber, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, From September 2 to November 24, 2019: Case-Control Study

Authors of this article:

Saba Ajam1 ;   Muhammad Qasim Khan2 ;   Nosheen Ashraf3 ;   Muhammad Wasif Malik3 ;   Zeeshan Iqbal Baig4 ;   Muazzam Abbas Ranjha3 Author Orcid Image ;   Ambreen Chaudhary4 ;   Mumtaz Ali Khan3 ;   Jamil A Ansari4 ;   Aamer Ikram3
Article Authors Cited by Tweetations Metrics

    Abstract

    1Directorate of Livestock & Dairy Development Department, Peshawar, Pakistan

    2Disease Surveillance and Response Unit, Peshawar, Pakistan

    3National Institute of Health, Islamabad, Pakistan

    4Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Corresponding Author:

    Saba Ajam, DVM, MSc (Hons)

    Directorate of Livestock & Dairy Development Department

    138, Professor colony

    Khyber Pakhtunkhw

    Peshawar

    Pakistan

    Phone: 92 3009096767

    Email: fvopeshawar@hotmail.com


    Background: Dengue is a vector-borne disease endemic to Pakistan as well as to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A total of 300 confirmed cases of dengue were reported in District Khyber in 2019, where a prompt response was initiated by the Disease Surveillance and Response Unit. Subsequently, a study was planned to identify the risk factors associated with dengue and to propose recommendations for containment of the disease.

    Objective: This study aimed to assess the risk factors associated with dengue in District Khyber and to provide recommendations for improving the existing system and preventing dengue.

    Methods: A case-control study was conducted in District Khyber from September 2 to November 24, 2019. Cases were enrolled from health care facilities based on predefined criteria, which included the presence of clinical signs and symptoms as well as laboratory confirmation of dengue NS1 antigen. Controls were enrolled from the community at a case-control ratio of 1:2. Data were collected using a pretested questionnaire in face-to-face interviews.

    Results: A total of 300 cases were enrolled; 87% (263) of cases were men. This study found that 45% (269/601; odds ratio [OR] 15, 95% CI 9.9-24.07; P<.001) of enrolled participants did not use bed nets and 39% (236/601; OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.4; P<.001) did not use mosquito repellents. A total of 39% (233/601; OR 16.6, 95% CI 11.11-24.93; P<.001) of enrolled participants who tested positive for dengue were neighbors, 35% (213/601; OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.04-2.0; P<.001) lived in a joint family, and 40% (241/601; OR 3.32, 95% CI 2.3-4.7; P<.001) slept outdoors; these factors were significantly associated with dengue.

    Conclusions: Dengue is a preventable disease and can be controlled by the proper use of bed nets and mosquito repellents, modification of sleeping habits, and improvement in family structure. Dengue management training for health care personnel and community awareness are recommended.

    iproc 2022;8(1):e36641

    doi:10.2196/36641

    Keywords

    bed nets; mosquito repellent 

    Edited by Y Khader; This is a non–peer-reviewed article. submitted 19.01.22; accepted 24.01.22; published 21.02.22

    Copyright

    ©Saba Ajam, Muhammad Qasim Khan, Nosheen Ashraf, Muhammad Wasif Malik, Zeeshan Iqbal Baig, Muazzam Abbas Ranjha, Ambreen Chaudhary, Mumtaz Ali Khan, Jamil A Ansari, Aamer Ikram. Originally published in Iproceedings (https://www.iproc.org), 21.02.2022.

    This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work, first published in Iproceedings, is properly cited. The complete bibliographic information, a link to the original publication on https://www.iproc.org/, as well as this copyright and license information must be included.