Visceral Leishmaniasis (Kala-Azar) Risk Mapping Using Geo-Spatial Tools, a Case Study in Kafta Humera Woreda, North Western Ethiopia
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2014-05-05
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a severe vector‐borne parasitic disease. In Ethiopia, the estimated incidence of VL ranges from 2,000 to 4500 cases per year. Based on this, the main objective of this research was to develop a risk map of VL and to estimate the total population at risk in Kafta Humera Woreda (District), Northwestern Ethiopia. To achieve the stated objectives, geospatial tools were used to extract and develop risk cover map of VL using variables including rainfall, temperature, vegetation cover, soil type, altitude, slope and population data. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assign weight of influence for the variables in spatial weighted overlay analysis model. The result revealed that temperature, elevation, soil, slope, rainfall and NDVI were the major predictors of VL presence with percentage influence of 29%, 22%, 15%, 13%, 12%, and 9%, respectively. From the produced risk map, 3453.69 km2, 2210.38 km2 and 269.59 km2 representing 58.21%, 37.25%, and 4.54%, of the total area of Kafta Humera were at high, medium and low VL risk, respectively. In addition, the estimated population at high, medium and low risk level were 92,831 (68.98%), 34,864 (25.91 %) and 6,874 (5.11%), respectively. Based on the output, Kebeles (the lowest administrative unit) such as Bereket, Rawoyan, Baeker, Adebay, May Kadra and Humera town were identified with high population at risk for VL. Identification of priority Kebeles requiring immediate attention from health agencies as well as the local community greatly reduces the cost, time and energy for designing efficient VL control and program.
Description
Keywords
Geospatial Tools, GIS, Kafta Humera, Remote Sensing, Visceral Leishmaniasis