Open AccessDevelopment of an Index for the Inspection of Aedes aegypti Breeding Sites in Brazil: Multi-criteria Analysis
Author(s) -
Yuri Lima,
Wallace A. Pinheiro,
Carlos Eduardo Barbosa,
Matheus Magalhães,
Mı́riam Martins Chaves,
Jano Moreira de Souza,
Sérgio Rodrigues,
Geraldo Xexéo
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
jmir public health and surveillance
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2369-2960
DOI - 10.2196/19502
Subject(s) - aedes aegypti , public health , chikungunya , dengue fever , analytic hierarchy process , government (linguistics) , aedes , environmental health , geography , index (typography) , christian ministry , work (physics) , operations research , medicine , biology , computer science , political science , virology , engineering , ecology , linguistics , philosophy , nursing , larva , world wide web , mechanical engineering , law
Background Aedes aegypti is a vector for the transmission of diseases such as dengue fever, chikungunya, Zika fever, and yellow fever. In 2016, over 1 million cases of these diseases were reported in Brazil, which is an alarming public health issue. One of the ways of controlling this disease is by inspecting and neutralizing the places where A. aegypti lays its eggs. The Ministry of Planning, Development, and Administration of Brazil maintains the inspection statistics. Objective We propose a multi-criteria analysis to create an index for A. aegypti inspections reported through the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Administration system of Brazil. Methods Based on the repository from urban cleaning services combined with data on inspections conducted by government agencies in several Brazilian cities and municipalities, we selected and combined metrics, which we further ranked using the analytic hierarchy process methodology. We also developed risk maps based on the analytic hierarchy process ranking of the A. aegypti breeding sites. Results Based on our analysis and the available data, the priority for inspections should consider the number of sick people (weight 0.350), medical evaluations (weight 0.239), inspections (weight 0.201), mosquito breeding sites (weight 0.126), and days of absence from work (weight 0.096). Conclusions The proposed index could aid public health practitioners in preventing the appearance of new A. aegypti breeding sites. This information technology application can help solve such public health challenges.