Dengue Fever Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Dengue Fever, including details on symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis, treatment, prevention.

Social and environmental determinants of Aedes aegypti infestation in Central Havana: results of a case-control study nested in an integrated dengue surveillance programme in Cuba.

Spiegel JM, Bonet M, Ibarra AM, Pagliccia N, Ouellette V, Yassi A

Global Health Research Program, Liu Institute for Global Issues, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. jerry.spiegel@ubc.ca

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the social and environmental risk factors associated with the presence of Aedes aegypti in order to improve community dengue control. METHODS: A case-control study with 'cases' being households with entomologically confirmed A. aegypti infestation; personal interviews in Central Havana, a densely populated inner city area characterized by overcrowded housing and irregular water service. The participants were residents of 278 houses with infestation and 556 houses without infestation. RESULTS: Greater risk of infestation was associated with lack of preventive measures, such as no larvicide in the water tanks (OR = 2.21) and use of flower vases for religious practice (1.93), not being economically active (1.64), vulnerable populations with higher risks in households with older people (1.52) and households with children (1.94). CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to reduce infestations should continue to focus on water tank sanitation and improving housing conditions, but also engage community religious leaders to help promote safe practices. Vulnerable populations should be especially targeted by prevention activities. A surveillance programme can produce evidence to guide interventions.

Published 20 April 2007 in Trop Med Int Health, 12(4): 503-10.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Dengue Fever Research Today. All Rights Reserved.