Cholera Epidemic in Guinea-Bissau (2008): The Importance of “Place” Spatial Description of Cholera in Guinea-Bissau
2011

Cholera Epidemic in Guinea-Bissau (2008): The Importance of Place

Sample size: 700 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Luquero Francisco J., Banga Cunhate Na, Remartínez Daniel, Palma Pedro Pablo, Baron Emanuel, Grais Rebeca F.

Primary Institution: Epicentre, Paris, France

Hypothesis

How does the geographical spread of cholera in Guinea-Bissau inform prevention and control activities?

Conclusion

The study identified the most affected regions and neighborhoods during the 2008 cholera outbreak, which is crucial for guiding treatment and prevention efforts.

Supporting Evidence

  • A total of 14,222 cholera cases and 225 deaths were reported in Guinea-Bissau during the epidemic.
  • Bairro Bandim had an attack rate of 4.0%, the highest in the capital.
  • Cluster analysis identified two high-risk areas within Bairro Bandim.
  • 22.7% of assessed households in Bairro Bandim had at least one cholera case.

Takeaway

This study looked at where cholera cases happened in Guinea-Bissau to help decide where to send help and stop the disease from spreading.

Methodology

The study included a descriptive analysis and a cross-sectional cluster analysis of cholera cases in Guinea-Bissau.

Potential Biases

The study may have biases due to the retrospective nature and the focus on a single neighborhood.

Limitations

The study was limited by time and resource constraints, focusing only on one area and not establishing statistical associations with risk factors.

Participant Demographics

Most patients were between 15 and 49 years old, with similar numbers of cases in men and women.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.001

Confidence Interval

95%CI: 19.5–26.2

Statistical Significance

p<0.001

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0019005

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