Association of environmental and socio-economic risk factors and dengue preventive practice related to dengue outbreak in Maela Temporary Shelter in Tak Province, Thailand

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was carried out in Mae La Temporary Shelter, Tha Saung Yan District, Tak Province, Thailand from the mid of February to the end of March, 2011 with the purpose of investigating the association between environmental, socio-economic risk factors & dengue prevention practice with 2010 Mae La dengue outbreak. This study was conducted with 400 participants by using a structured interview questionnaire. The result showed the majority of the respondents stayed in Mae La for more than 10 years. The age group was in the range of 15-49 years. Of 64.8% were females and 35.2% were men. Some of them (37.2%) were illiterate. And 51.5% were jobless and 43% of families had household income of less than 1,000 THB/month. The result revealed that age group, religion, occupational status, mosquito breeding places, household drainage condition and lighting condition of households were significantly associated to Dengue patients (p<0.05). The study results suggested that living condition of refugees in Mae La temporary shelter need to be strengthened for preventing and controlling of dengue and it needs to be included more education for people in this area in the future.