Identification of propagation risk factors for ten infectious diseases under surveillance in Senegal

Abstract

Ongoing changes in our environment have led to the reappearance or emergence of numerous infectious diseases. Several factors have been pointed out to be responsible for this situation. However, very few studies have focused on global factors related to the environment and people's living conditions. The aim of this study is to identify intra-district risk factors associated with the spread of ten potentially epidemic infectious diseases in Senegal. A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was carried out, based on a stratified sample of 10 health districts selected using an automatic sampling method. The study included chief medical officers who are responsible for health surveillance at districts' level. Data collection took place from September 21 to October 5, 2023. Information was gathered on physical environment of the districts, individual behavior, climate and socio-economic conditions, as well as on intrinsic features of the ten targeted diseases. An application of the logistic regression model for each disease separately, reveals that several types of risk factors: environmental, behavioral, climatic, socio-economic and seasonal, may influence the spread of these diseases within health districts. This study highlights the importance of taking these parameters into account, in the data collection process, in order to improve the epidemio-surveillance system and can help to target intervention measures to better combat these diseases.