Nepal : analysis of baseline survey data on Japanese Encephalitis, Kala-azar and Malaria

The potential risk factors of vector-borne diseases can vary from one household/population group to another. To understand potential risk factors better, this study introduces various household/population groups in Nepal and analyzes the potential risk factors for malaria, kala-azar (visceral leichmaniasis) and Japanese encephalitis across these groups. This report describes the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of the study population and respondents, examines variations in two potential bed net risks, and analyzes survey findings for lessons on how to make interventions for these diseases more effective. Geographic variation in indicators was considerable within a given disease-specific sample, implying that variations in socio-demographic indicators were high across the surveyed area and low across the disease-specific samples. Therefore, the three disease-specific samples produced consistent results regarding the common variables.

Bed nets are an important means of protection against vector bites. This study examines variations across several household groups and analyzes their association with household-level socio-economic status and size : 1) the risk presented by lacking bed nets; and 2) the risk presented by not having enough bed nets to protect all family members.

As socio-economic status increases both risks decrease. The risk presented by lack of nets increases as household size increases, reaching its maximum at a household size of six and then tends to decrease. In contrast, the risk presented by lack of bed net protection for all household members continues to increase as household size increases. This explains why Terai-group households, which tend to be larger, were at greater risk of leaving some household members unprotected.