Spatiotemporal Patterns and Social Risk Factors of Meningitis in Nigeria - Open Access Library Journal

OALibJ > Vol.3 No.8, August 2016

Spatiotemporal Patterns and Social Risk Factors of Meningitis in Nigeria ()

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DOI: 10.4236/oalib.1102909 1,356 Downloads 3,090 Views Citations

Author(s)

Auwal F. Abdussalam^1*, Yasser Qaffas²

Affiliation(s)

¹Department of Geography, Faculty of Science, Kaduna State University, Kaduna, Nigeria.
²Urban and Regional Planning at the Faculty of Environmental Design, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

ABSTRACT

This study aimed at characterising the spatiotemporal pattern of meningitis in Nigeria, in order to detect vulnerable areas. Stratified sampling was deployed in research inquiry based on the following variables: geographic location; population density; poverty status; and adult literacy level in accordance to diseases incidence rate. Population-based ratios were then computed for each stratum for the identification of high risk areas. Global Moran’s Index spatial autocorrelation technique was additionally used to investigate the extent to which neighbouring values of incidence rate are correlated and to determine meningitis demographic risk factors. A significant spatial clustering of meningitis incidence rate has been found in northern Nigeria, with less or no clustering in the southern part of the country. A significant correlation of disease, with geographical location and poverty was perceived. The study commends that improving the socioeconomic status of the affected population may reduce the incidents of meningitis in the high risk area in Nigeria.

KEYWORDS

Health Geography, Nigeria, Meningitis, Spatial Autocorrelation

Share and Cite:

Abdussalam, A. and Qaffas, Y. (2016) Spatiotemporal Patterns and Social Risk Factors of Meningitis in Nigeria. Open Access Library Journal, 3, 1-13. doi: 10.4236/oalib.1102909.

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