Differences in the association of dengue and leptospirosis incidences with respect to socio-sanitary vulnerability in the city of Santa Fe, Argentina

Abstract

The objective of this study was to detect geographical areas of the city with the highest incidence for each disease, find and compare patterns of association between incidences of dengue and leptospirosis with socio-environmental descriptors related to social and health inclusion. Data from the National Health Surveillance System were georeferenced to determine the number of cases and incidences for each radio/census fraction using geographic information systems. Satellite images and socioeconomic and demographic databases were used to characterize the habitat and the degree of social exclusion. The indices considered were: unsatisfied basic needs, socioeconomic stratum, educational level, and health vulnerability. A positive correlation was found between the distribution of the incidence of leptospirosis with low socioeconomic status and health vulnerability. With respect to dengue there is a negative correlation, so the incidence increases in areas with less social vulnerability. In the present study we provide evidence in favor of dengue being a disease that affects broad sectors, mainly those with less social and health vulnerability, unlike leptospirosis. However, attention in public policies is greater for dengue and scarce for leptospirosis.

Keywords

• dengue
• leptospirosis
• epidemiology