Spatial susceptibility analysis of vector-borne diseases in KMC using geospatial technique and MCDM approach

Abstract

The prevalence of vector-borne diseases (VBDs) like malaria and dengue claims many parts of the capital city Kolkata. Although the frequency of affects has been declining, still several cases are still reported from different parts of Kolkata Municipal Corporation. The present study aimed to apply multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) approach along with geospatial technique to map susceptible areas of vector-borne diseases. For growing vectors and transmitting diseases, there are always many factors responsible instead of a single factor. Hence, the present work was carried out in multiple stages. Initially different susceptible factors to vector-borne diseases like environment, demography, epidemic and related to suitable breeding sites were selected. Analytic hierarchy process as a technique of MCDM was considered and pair-wise comparison matrix (PCM) was established for each selected factor. Synergistically, weight-based single layer of susceptible zonation was developed and finally, GIS integration was performed for susceptible map of VBDs. The decision-making process was judged by consistency measurement and result shows that the consistency ratio of each selected factor ranged between 0.02 and 0.07, i.e. < 0.1 which is acceptable. Geospatial technique offers space to apply statistical method and analytical technique to acquire information. With the help of remote sensing data and spatial information, GIS tool was utilised to analyse spatial susceptibility of vector-borne diseases. The study revealed that spatial location of water bodies is the most responsible factor with highest weight among all selected factors and concomitantly, moisture content, surface temperature, proximity to waste storage bins, and reported dengue and malaria cases also share influential contributions in prevalence of vector-borne diseases. The present result shows the high applicability of geospatial technique in epidemic diseases’ zonation which may considered helpful for applying in different fields of research.