Abstract
To investigate the risk factors associated with bedbug infestations among Hong Kong households, self-reported questionnaires in Chinese were distributed online between June 2019 and July 2020. The questionnaire collected data on participants’ sociodemographics, history of bedbug infestation, and housing situation. Among the 663 participants who completed the questionnaire, 422 (63.7%) have experienced bedbug infestations in the past year, they were concentrated around the Kowloon region. Weighted bivariate and multivariate binary logistic regression were performed to identify the statistically significant (p value < 0.05) factors associated with bedbug infestations. Bivariate analysis shows a positive correlation between the number of reported dilapidated housing features and bedbug infestation. For multivariate analysis, those aged 45–64 (OR = 2.53, 95% CI 1.30–4.91), have primary education or below (OR = 9.43, 95% CI 3.12–28.44), and monthly household income ≤ HKD30,000 (OR = 1.69, 95% CI 1.15–2.5) were more likely to have bedbug infestation compared to their respective reference groups, i.e., ≥ 65, tertiary education, and > HKD30,000; housing risk factors identified are living in subdivided flats (OR = 16.53, 95% CI 1.01–269.72), crowded household (OR = 1.55, 95% CI 1.06–2.28), having second-hand furniture (OR = 2.97, 95% CI 1.16–7.58), housing cleanliness issues (OR = 2.66, 95% CI 1.13–6.25), and presence of bedbugs in neighbouring residential units (OR = 3.32, 95% CI 1.57–7.04) or on the streets (OR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.12–3.23). This study has identified lower income, lower education level, crowded household, living in subdivided flats, and certain dilapidated housing features to be risk factors of bedbug infestations; efforts and policies should prioritise vulnerable groups and focus on addressing the housing risk factors identified in this study.
Highlights
Bedbugs (Cimex spp.) are nocturnal ectoparasites that feed on human blood (Cannet et al, 2015)
To provide insight into the bedbug situation in Hong Kong and inform initiatives and policies against bedbug infestations and the surrounding issues, this study aims to identify the risk factors associated with bedbug infestations among Hong Kong households
This study provides empirical evidence for crowded household, subdivided flats, and certain dilapidated housing features namely having second-hand furniture, housing cleanliness issues, and presence of bedbugs in neighbouring residential units or on the streets to be risk factors for bedbug infestations
Summary
Bedbugs (Cimex spp.) are nocturnal ectoparasites that feed on human blood (Cannet et al, 2015). The global bedbug resurgence since the 1990s has been attributed to several factors including human population growth and urbanization (Davies et al, 2012; Wang and Wen, 2011; Zorrilla-Vaca et al, 2015). These factors strain housing systems leading to more deprived housing with dilapidated housing features that provide favourable conditions for the spread of bedbug infestation such as cracks in walls, peeling wallpaper, and crowded housing (Eddy and Jones, 2011; Godfrey and Julien, 2005; Harlan et al, 2007). The effect of different building types on the risk of bedbug infestation is worth further investigation since certain building characteristics may pose higher risks (Ralph et al, 2013); the identification of bedbug infestation risk factors can inform initiatives and policies to tackle household vulnerabilities for bedbug infestations and the global bedbug resurgence
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