Abstract:
Describes the epidemiologic situation and identify factors related to Leptospirosis occurrence in Saraburi Province during 1998-2001. Reports 506 and related disease investigation documents of 177 leptospirosis cases, and detailed information from 133 leptospirosis cases and 266 health persons were used in identifying related factors of the disease occurrence. Results of the analysis showed decreasing trend of leptospirosis incidence rate and also decrease in the disease case fatality rate during 1998-2001. Majority of the cases were male agricultural workers, aged between 25-34 years, and residing in the western part (wet and rice-farming area) of the province. Their houses and work areas were wet and swampy, with animal pen underneath the houses. They had minimal knowledge about leptospirosis. Most of them had wounds/abrasion and contacted with water for more than 6 hours a day. Factors significantly associated with the disease occurrence included water contact behavior, not protecting oneself upon having an injury, abrasive and lacerated wound, rat hunting, staying or working in wet, using bandage to cover wound when working in wet place, and swampy area where the golden apple snails and rats are prevalent, and travel on foot to the farm. Comparison between leptospirosis cases and healthy controls showed that they were significantly different in history of contact with slow-running water, being a gardener, fishing behavior, dredging pond/ canal behavior, frequency of having injury, frequency of working in water/wet area when having wound. In conclusion, resent study point out that leptospirosis occurrence in Saraburi Province may be prevented by educating the high-risk people about appropriate disease prevention behavior, eliminating swamps around houses, and work place, isolating animal pens from hourses, and clearing/moving path from house to main road.