Domestic and peridomestic risk factors associated with transmission of cutaneous leishmaniasis in three hypo endemic, endemic, and hyper endemic areas: A randomized epidemiological study

Abstract

Background: Leishmaniasis is an infection caused by leishmania protozoa. Knowledge about health eff ects associated with environment situation and human behavior in national and local levels seems to be very necessary. Materials and Methods: Th is cross-sectional case-control study was carried out in three  adjacent counties of Isfahan province in Iran. Data were collected by face-to-face interviewing and recorded structured questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square test and logistic. P < 0.05 was considered as
signifi cant. Results: The economic level had signifi cant association with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) transmission (P < 0.05). However,there was no significant association between existence of food storage and transmission of CL. We, however, found significant reduction of CL transmission following use of insect control measures (P < 0.05). The odds ratio for peridomestic transmission was 0.420 for houses that weren’t round with any old or ruined houses. Conclusion: We conclude that among aforementioned risk factors, the impact of
peridomestic factors is stronger in CL transmission when compared with domestic and behavioral factors.

Key words: Cutaneous leishmaniasis, domestic, human behavior, peridomestic, risk factors