CHILDHOOD DISEASE MAPPING IN KADUNA STATE USING GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS
CHILDHOOD DISEASE MAPPING IN KADUNA STATE USING GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS
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Date
2012-10
Authors
ARIGBEDE, Yetunde Adedoyin
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Abstract
This study was carried out to map the spatial variation of disease prevalence and their attendant
causes among children in Igabi, Zaria and Zangon Kataf LGAs of Kaduna State. The objectives
were to characterise the main types of childhood diseases in Kaduna State, analyse and map the
spatial pattern of childhood diseases in the study area, identify the factors responsible for the
spatial variation of childhood diseases in the study area and determine sex differentials in
childhood disease prevalence. The data used included information from hospital records and
field survey, which comprised of 477 questionnaires. Qualitative data from in depth interviews
and Focus Group discussions were also used. Satellite imageries were georeferenced and
digitised. The data for disease prevalence was aggregated within the GIS environment to produce
the disease maps. Chi square analysis was used to determine the relationship between economic
and sociodemographic characteristics of mothers, and disease prevalence in children. The main
diseases that were found among children in the study area included Malaria (59.3%), Diarrhoea
(20.3%), VPD (6.0%), pneumonia (4.7%) and others (9.7%). The incidences of these diseases
varied between the three LGAs under study, with Igabi being prevalent in Malaria and VPD,
Zaria in Diarrhoea, and Zangon Kataf in Pneumonia. Some socioeconomic and demographic
characteristics of the mothers of the sick children had influence on the occurrence of sickness in
the children. Some of these are educational attainment (p=0.029), marital status (p=0.010),
attendance of antenatal clinics (p=0.001), and place of birth (p=0.013). The utilisation of
mosquito nets is found to have an influence over incidence of malaria in children over the study
period,(0.001) The method of excrement disposal(0.025) and source of drinking water(p=0.007)
also had an effect on occurrence of diarrhoea in children. Exposure to pollution from unclean
energy for cooking had an influence on pneumonia prevalence (p=0.007). Of all these sick
children, the general hospital was the most common choice of their mothers in search of
treatment. There were also more sickly female children (57%) than male (43%). The health of
the female children may not have been treated carefully (probably due to son preference). To
help manage disease prevalence, recommendations include: better sanitation conditions,
adequate nutrition of children and practice of disease preventive measures such as- timely
vaccinations, utilisation of mosquito nets, and improved hygiene should be practiced by mothers.
Education of mothers to at least secondary level is also of great importance to aid better care of
children. The conclusion is that mapping childhood diseases present a better way of
understanding variation in diseases and provide location-specific management measures.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF
POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY,
ZARIA, IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN
GEOGRAPHY
DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY
FACULTY OF SCIENCE
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA.
Keywords
CHILDHOOD,, DISEASE,, MAPPING,, KADUNA STATE,, USING,, GEOGRAPHIC,, INFORMATION,, SYSTEMS