Open AccessSocio-demographic determinants of dengue infection during an outbreak in Dar es Salaam City, Tanzania
Author(s) -
Neema Camara,
Billy Ngasala,
Germana Leyna,
Ahmed Abade,
Susan F. Rumisha,
Ndekya M. Oriyo,
Leonard E. G. Mboera
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
tanzania journal of health research/tanzania journal of health research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.201
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 1821-6404
pISSN - 1821-9241
DOI - 10.4314/thrb.v20i2.3
Subject(s) - dengue fever , tanzania , medicine , outbreak , dar es salaam , logistic regression , environmental health , demography , geography , immunology , virology , environmental planning , sociology
Background: In recent years, the eastern coast of Africa has witnessed a number of dengue outbreaks. This study was carried out to determine socio-demographic determinants of dengue infection during the 2014 outbreak in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methods: Unmatched case-control analysis of secondary data from a cross-sectional dengue investigation in three districts of Dar es Salaam in June 2014 was conducted. Febrile patients seeking care at health facilities were recruited. Cases were serologically-confirmed dengue-positive while controls were serologically-confirmed dengue-negative patients. A questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic information. The association between sociodemographic variables and dengue infection was examined using univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 81 cases and 281 controls were included in the analysis. Majority of the cases and controls were males (64.2% versus 54.1%; P=0.137) and were >15 years of age (88.9% versus 72.9%; P =0.003). Living in Kinondoni (aOR = 4.28; 95% CI: 1.74 - 10.53); being employed (aOR = 2.06; 95% CI: 1.06-4.04); having piped water at home (aOR = 2.63; 95% CI: 1.40 - 4.95) and a recent visit of health facility (aOR = 1.94; 95% CI: 1.11 - 3.38) were significantly associated with dengue infection.Conclusions: Dengue infection in Dar es Salaam varied between the three districts and was associated with being employed, having piped water at home and a recent visit to the health facility. These findings provide primary understanding of the influence of socio-demographic factors on dengue and may be used to develop appropriate preventive interventions.