CME Journal of Medical Microbiology
ISSN: 3070-3638 | DOI: 10.64030/3070-3638
Bawlah Tahir, Abdi Mohamed, Afework Hailu, Teka Tesfay
Background: Tropical diseases are global public health concern claiming millions of lives. Leishmaniasis is one of the neglected tropical diseases caused by intracellular protozoan parasite; visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is the most severe and fatal if left untreated. There is no published data on factors associated with VL in the study area.
Objective: To assess associated risk factors for Visceral Leishmaniasis in Gode General Hospital, Somali region, eastern Ethiopia.
Methods: An unmatched case-control study was conducted on 510 study participants (102 cases and 408 controls) using convenient sampling technique at Gode General Hospital from April 01 – June 30, 2024. Structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic information and other risk factors. Retrospective record reviewing was carried out in the Hospital for the cases. 102 recent and accessible cases were selected. Data collectors went to three selected districts where cases are living. Controls were selected randomly from the houses near by the cases. VL was screened from the controls using rapid test (rk39). Data were entered into Epi-data 4.6, exported to and analyzed in SPSS version 25. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis was carried out to measure the strength of association between outcome and independent variables. In bivariate regression, variables with p-value ≤ 0.25 were set for multivariable regression analysis. P- Value <0.05 at 95% confidence interval was used as significance level.
Result: Male sex; AOR with 95%CI: 2.6(1.6 -4.3, p=0.00), type of house wall; AOR/95% CI 2.0(1.2 -3.4, p=0.006), presence of member with VL in the family; AOR/95% CI 2.7(1.6-4.4, p=0.00), outside sleeping habit; AOR/95% CI 1.7(1.0 -2.7, p=0.04), presence of termite hill near the home; AOR/95% CI 1.6(1 – 2.6, p=0.047) and mosquito net usage; AOR/95% CI 0.6(0.4 – 0.9, p=0.039) were found statistically associated with Visceral Leishmaniasis.
Conclusion: Male sex, presence of VL confirmed member in the household, presence of termite hill near the house, an outdoor sleeping habit and mud type of house wall were statistically associated with increased risk of acquiring VL. In contrast, possession and usage of mosquito net usage was statistically associated with reduced risk of VL. Housing conditions should be improved lowering mud wall, removing termite hills near households, personal habits should also be improved by creating awareness towards prevention and control of VL.