Socio-demographic, environmental and life style factors on the dengue epidemic in Noakhali District, Bangladesh: Evidence from recent outbreak

Abstract

Background: Dengue, a mosquito-borne disease predominantly found in tropical and subtropical countries like Bangladesh. This study attempted to look at the influence of various socio-demographic, environmental, and lifestyle factors on the recent dengue outbreak in Noakhali district, Bangladesh. Methods: The study adopted a mixed-method analysis of information collected from hospital records of dengue patients, and a telephone survey of the same patients to collect background information, their length of stay in the hospital, types of symptoms they had & medicines they took, etc. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and logistic regression analysis were used for analysis. Result: More than 80% of the patients were male, aged <30 years and resided in urban and semi-urban areas; >60% of the patients got bitten by dengue vector at working place or while traveling, >50% of the patients reported that they did not have proper sewage and garbage management at place. Patients living in urban areas were more likely to get infected with dengue than in other areas. Older patients (≥30 years) were more likely to stay longer duration in hospital than younger ones. Moreover, men had higher chances of getting bitten at working place than women and children who were mostly bitten at household and surrounding environment [OR = 14.7; P = 0.01]. Conclusion: Environmental, lifestyle, and socio-demographic factors had effects on dengue patients and their sufferings at the hospital. A safe working environment, proper sewage, and garbage management system, and organized urban development plan can help to reduce larvae development sites to a great extent.