Study Of Environmental And Socioeconomic Factors Contributing To Dengue Outbreak In Maharashtra

Abstract

Dengue fever is a rapidly expanding Aedes-borne viral infection and a continuing public health challenge in India. The disease is strongly influenced by climatic, environmental, demographic and socioeconomic conditions that promote mosquito breeding and human-vector contact. Maharashtra has repeatedly reported dengue cases and deaths in the national surveillance system, with marked year-to-year variation and urban clustering. The present study was undertaken to assess environmental and socioeconomic factors contributing to dengue outbreak in Maharashtra, with special attention to household water storage, drainage, sanitation, waste disposal, housing, population density and dengue prevention awareness. An analytical community-based cross-sectional study approach was used. The study population comprised households from selected outbreak-affected urban and peri-urban areas of Maharashtra. Data collection included a structured questionnaire, socioeconomic assessment and environmental observation checklist. Data were tabulated by dengue case-household status and analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test and odds ratio. A p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The analysis showed that uncovered or irregularly cleaned water storage containers, stagnant water near households, blocked/open drainage, poor waste disposal and visible mosquito breeding sites were more frequent among dengue case households. Low education, lower income, larger family size, semi-pucca housing, overcrowding and inadequate awareness were associated with increased dengue risk. High environmental risk score showed the strongest association with dengue occurrence.