Epidemiological Study and Spatial Modeling of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Bushehr Province using the Geographic Information System (GIS) during ۲۰۱۱-۲۰۱۵

Introduction: It is generally accepted that cutaneous leishmaniasis is an important health problem in the world which is caused by leishmaniasis protozoan. This disease is also considered as a health problem in some regions of Iran including Bushehr province. The present study investigated the geographical dispersion and epidemiological characteristics of subjects with the cutaneous leishmaniasis in this province during ۲۰۱۱-۲۰۱۵. Methods: In this cross-sectional and analytical study, the epidemiologic data including the age, gender, residential area, and counties with this disease was analyzed and collected from ۶۶۳ patients who were followed up and treated during ۲۰۱۱ to ۲۰۱۵. Results: ۴۲۲ (۶۳.۷%) of studied people were residents of urban areas and ۲۴۱ (۳۶.۳%) lived in rural areas. ۵۹.۴% (۳۹۴ people) were male and ۴۰.۶% (۲۶۹) were female. The mean age of subjects was ۲۱.۹۱± ۱۷.۰۱ (ranging from ۱ to ۸۰ years). Kangan County with an average ۵-year incidence of ۱۷.۷۲ per a hundred thousand people had the highest incidence, but Tangestan County with the incidence of ۸.۴۷ per a hundred thousand people had the lowest average incidence. Based on GIS results, Jam County, which was not recognized as the focus of this disease in the past, has been considered as a new focus of disease in recent years. Conclusion: The geographic information system (GIS) is an effective tool for the organization of diseases and health data. The crisis can be identified and controlled by taking proper measures with the discovery of spatial accumulation of diseases.

Keywords:

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis , Geographic Information System (GIS) , Epidemiology , لیشمانیوز جلدی , سیستم اطلاعات جغرافیایی (GIS) , اپیدمیولوژی , سالک