Date of Conferral

2020

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Health

Advisor

Srikanta Banerjee

Abstract

Dengue is the most important arboviral disease of public health concern on the world stage. In Saint Lucia, the disease has been endemic for years. Little research has been published on the specific epidemiology of dengue in Saint Lucia, and this study sought to identify the risk factors associated with the disease specific to the island. This study was underpinned by ecological theory, which is used to explain the possible relationships between risk factors and the occurrence of dengue. This three-manuscript study was used to evaluate the relationship between demographic, environmental, and clinical variables and the occurrence of dengue as individual studies. The data for the explanatory variables and dengue occurrence were accessed from the databases of Central Statistics Office of Saint Lucia, the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, the Saint Lucia Meteorological Office, and the Ministry of Health and Wellness and analyzed using chi-squared and logistic regression tests. It was demonstrated that the adolescent age group, ages 13-18 years (p < .001, OR 4.339 [CI 2.731-6.891), the district of Laborie (p = .05, OR 3.371 [CI 1.459-7.792]), maximum daily temperature of > 32o C (p = .05, OR 3.350 [CI 1.312-8.555]) undifferentiated fever, (p < .001, OR 5.250 [CI 3.557-7.749]) acute respiratory infections or fever with respiratory signs and gastroenteritis 1.622 (p < .001, OR 1.622 [CI 1.038-2.535]) had significant, positive relationships with dengue in Saint Lucia. Findings may allow public health authorities to elicit social change by better targeting control programs, and further research is recommended to better understand the complex epidemiology of dengue in Saint Lucia. During periods of increased rainfall and temperature health care professionals should have a high index of suspicion for dengue.

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