Identification of novel risk factors for community-acquired Clostridium difficile infection using spatial statistics and geographic information system analyses

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is caused by the virus of the same name and has major economic impacts on cattle breeding. In Turkey, frequent cases of cattle LSD have been reported over the last years. The present study aimed to analyze potential risk factors for LSD and provide information for controlling the spread of infectious diseases by a geographic information system (GIS). The research included cross-sectional and retrospective studies with active disease follow-up and semi-structured interviews (SSI) from August 2013 to December 2014 in Turkey. Potential risk factors for LSD were evaluated based on environmental conditions and provincial demographic and epidemiological data. Of the total of 562 observed animals, 27.22% and 2.67% of cattle were sick and died due to LSD, respectively. The morbidity rate was 26.04% in mixed and 38.18% in local breeds. The animal-level prevalence significantly differed among animals of different age, sex, and with different vaccination status (P<0.05). It was more serious in younger animals and females and during drier weather conditions. A trend of seasonality was observed in LSD occurrence. Significant risk factors affecting the prevalence of LSD were proximity to the southern border of Turkey, animal movements, and animal markets. In this process, geographical query, analysis, and thematic map production were performed by GIS.

Download Full-text

Use of geographic information system in the assessment of bacteriological quality and sanitary risk factors of household drinking water sources in Ibadan, Nigeria

Journal of Water Supply Research and Technology—AQUA ◽

10.2166/aqua.2008.051 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 57 (8) ◽

pp. 607-614 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

E. O. Oloruntoba

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Information System ◽

Drinking Water ◽

Geographic Information System ◽

Geographic Information ◽

Water Sources ◽

Drinking Water Sources ◽

Bacteriological Quality ◽

Ibadan Nigeria

Download Full-text

Measuring the dengue risk area using Geographic Information System: a review

Insights in Public Health Journal ◽

10.20884/1.iphj.2020.1.1.3012 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 36

Author(s):

Sulistyawati Sulistyawati

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Information System ◽

Geographic Information System ◽

Population Density ◽

Spatial Epidemiology ◽

Geographic Information ◽

Community Research ◽

Gis Applications ◽

Disease Case ◽

The Impact

Background: Dengue is a viral infection transmitted by mosquitoes that continue to be a significant health challenge in many tropical and subtropical countries. So far, Geographic Information System (GIS) in the health sector contributed to disease prevention, especially for visualization of the disease case. GIS is one of the important tools in spatial epidemiology to assist identification and spatial analysis of the target disease intervention. This article summarizes the use of GIS to assess risk factors for DHF, and how efficient the use of GIS in facilitating the improvement of disease surveillance systems for the prevention and control of diseases. Methods: This paper was developed using a descriptive approach, conducted in September and December 2019. The primary data used in this research were from ScienceDirect databased by collecting some studies that assess the risk of dengue using GIS applications. Results: The results of reviews of research in several countries which use GIS applications in assessing the risk of dengue incidence, ie, in Swat, Pakistan evaluated the impact of the slope, population density, and the distance to the river through GIS applications. Then in Seremban and Putrajaya, Malaysia implemented a participatory approach to identify the spatial risk of dengue in the community. Research in Lahore, Pakistan, analyzed the risk of dengue. Study in Colombia conducted GWR to evaluate the association between socioeconomic factors and the environment with dengue fever incidence. Recently, research in Taiwan integrated GIS to detect the correlation between population density and the possibility of human contact with mosquitoes. Conclusions: Based on the results of the review, it can be drawn that asses the dengue risk with GIS applications is highly relevant because it can determine the factors which affect the incidence of dengue. Besides, it can determine the spatial correlation between risk factors and the incidence of dengue, as well as to evaluate the impact of the dengue occurrence.

Download Full-text

Geographic information system analysis of developmentally disabled adult offenders

Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behaviour ◽

10.1108/jidob-09-2015-0028 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 4-13

Author(s):

George Steve Tsagaris ◽

Mamadou Mansor Seck ◽

Janet Keeler ◽

Robert Rowe

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Information System ◽

Geographic Information System ◽

System Analysis ◽

Geographic Information ◽

Mental Health Court ◽

Gis Mapping ◽

Community Control ◽

Content Type

Purpose – Adult offenders diagnosed with developmental disabilities have been referred for services to a Northeast Ohio county agency. The purpose of this paper is to examine their repartition in the three areas of the county as determined by zip codes, their involvement with the criminal justice system, types of offenses they committed, their indictment, and the court outcomes. Design/methodology/approach – This study used a geographic information system (GIS) mapping based on secondary data collected from the 2008 to 2012 American Community Survey and a random sample of 160 participants selected from an agency database including 850 clients. Findings – The authors found that the concentrations of offenders in the core city, inner, and outer suburbs of the county were, respectively 71.7, 19.6, and 8.7 percent. The largest racial groups included African Americans (112; 70 percent) and Whites (33; 20.6 percent). Male offenders (155; 96.9 percent) outnumbered female offenders. Of the offenses committed, 42.9 percent were crimes against persons including kidnapping, abduction, assault, followed by crimes against property (22.2 percent), and crimes against society (26.4 percent). As they appeared before Mental Health Court or Non Mental Health Court judges, the court outcome evolved from community control for six months to prison sentence of 120 months. Research limitations/implications – These findings will enable agency professionals to look for protective as well as risk factors that are prevalent in each area of this NEO county and make plans for more effective, preventative, and clinical service provision. Originality/value – The use of GIS for data analysis represents an innovation in the research field involving adult offenders with developmental disability as it allows professionals to look for protective as well as risk factors that are prevalent in their clients’ immediate environment.

Download Full-text

Novel Risk Factors for Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection in Children

Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition ◽

10.1097/mpg.0000000000000553 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 60 (1) ◽

pp. 18-22 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Maribeth R. Nicholson ◽

Isaac P. Thomsen ◽

James C. Slaughter ◽

C. Buddy Creech ◽

Kathryn M. Edwards

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Clostridium Difficile ◽

Clostridium Difficile Infection ◽

Recurrent Clostridium Difficile Infection ◽

Novel Risk Factors

Download Full-text

Use of Geographic Information System Mapping in the Examination of Specialized Low Vision Resources and Areas of Need in Michigan

Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness ◽

10.1177/0145482x20987017 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 115 (1) ◽

pp. 5-16

Author(s):

Elyse Connors ◽

Amber E. Willard ◽

Kathleen M. Baker ◽

Katie Debiak ◽

Renee Beranek ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Information System ◽

Geographic Information System ◽

Vision Loss ◽

Low Vision ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Geographic Information ◽

Gis Mapping ◽

Lower Peninsula

Introduction: The number of adults with visual impairments (i.e., blindness or low vision) is increasing, especially with the aging of the population. Although awareness of vision loss as a public health problem is growing, public health budgets are decreasing. This study exemplifies the use of publicly available secondary data and geographic information system (GIS) mapping to spatially map areas of potential higher risk for vision loss and identify where specialized, low vision resources are located, by county, in Michigan. Methods: County-level, publicly available data on risk factors for low vision (health and demographic) and specialized low vision resources (medical, rehabilitation, and community) are extracted from existing public health data sets and information published on the Internet. GIS mapping is applied to visually examine potential areas of disparity between need and resources. Results: Broadly speaking, counties in Michigan with the highest number of risk factors for low vision are clustered in the center of the Lower Peninsula and on the eastern and western ends of the Upper Peninsula. Areas that have fewer resources for low vision are clustered in the thumb area and the middle to upper part of the Lower Peninsula. Resources are concentrated near the state’s metropolitan areas (i.e., Detroit and suburbs, Kalamazoo, and Grand Rapids). Discussion: Maps can be helpful in locating areas of health disparities, but they need to be interpreted carefully such as by considering the county’s population size. Understanding the eligibility criteria of available services can help to uncover groups of persons not being served. Implications for practitioners: With increasing need for services and shrinking budgets, strategic planning may help alleviate anticipated shortfalls in available services. Use of publicly available data and GIS mapping may be an affordable and efficient method to identify areas of need and resources, for targeted public health efforts in vision.

Download Full-text