3 research outputs found
A Case Control Study to Explore the Risk Factors for Acquisition of Leptospirosis in Surat City, After Flood
Background: Between August and November 2006, a population-based case
control study was conducted to identify the probable risk factors for
leptospirosis during flooding in Surat city. Materials and Methods:
Sixty-two laboratory confirmed cases out of 129 suspected cases, and
253 age and sex matched fever and healthy controls were interviewed
with the help of predesigned questionnaire. The association of risk
factors with acquiring leptospirosis was assessed by adjusted OR with
the help of logistic regression model to control confounders. Results:
By univariate analysis, factors identified were, walking barefoot (OR =
10.34, 95% CI 5.09-21.31, P < 0.001), contact of injured part with
flood water (OR = 9.65, 95% CI 4.81-19.61, P < 0.001), use of flood
water for cooking (OR = 5.94, 95% CI 2.5-14.06, P < 0.001), for
washing (OR = 4.21, 95% CI 1.74-10.17, P < 0.001), swimming in flood
water (OR = 3.66, 95% CI 1.97-6.83, P < 0.001) and bathing (OR =
2.69, 95% CI 1.02-7.05, P < 0.001), trash within 500 m (OR = 4.31,
95% CI 1.41-14.76, P < 0.05) and rats in surroundings (OR = 11.05,
95% CI 3.18-45.9, P < 0.001). By multivariate analysis, four factors
identified were, contact of injured part with flood water (Adjusted OR
= 6.69, 95% CI 3.05-14.64, P < 0.001), walking barefoot (Adjusted OR
= 4.95, 95% CI 2.22-11.06, P < 0.001), constant presence of rats in
household (Adjusted OR = 4.95, 95% CI 1.53-16.05, p < 0.05) and
spending more than four days in cleaning (Adjusted OR = 2.64, 95% CI
1.18-5.89, P < 0.05). Conclusions :Prompt and vigilant fever
surveillance activities in pre-monsoon preparedness plan, intensive IEC
messages, rodent control programs and improvement of environmental
sanitary conditions may help to greatly reduce the incidence of
leptospirosis