Situation of lower respiratory diseases by HDC database in communities living near open dump site A, Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya, Thailand, 2014

Abstract

Introduction: Open dump site is one of the waste disposal methods which is commonly improper waste management. As a result, it becomes a source of pollution. The study aimed to describe epidemiological characteristics of lower respiratory diseases among communities near Open Dump Site A in Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya and identify associations between incidences of lower respiratory diseases and distance from the open dump site to the village.
Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study for individual data and analytical ecological study based on secondary data analysis from Heath Data Center ( HDC) database at provincial level. The study population was residents who lived in six subdistricts in proximity three kilometers from the dump Site and was diagnosed as acute respiratory diseases (ICD-10: J20-22) and chronic lower respiratory diseases (ICD-10: J40-47) during January–December 2014. Age-sex standardized incidence rates by villages were calculated. Also, the association between incidence rates of the diseases and the distance from the dump site to the villages were assessed.
Results: Totally, 1,128 visits from 608 patients were identified as acute lower respiratory diseases, accounting for incidence 2.46 per 100,000 population. Additionally, 1,980 visits from 1,152 patients were diagnosed as chronic respiratory diseases, accounting for 4,658 per 100,000 population. Age-sex standardized incidence rates of acute lower respiratory diseases by villages declined with the distance from the open dumpsite with statistically significant (P-value= <0.001). Similarly, chronic lower respiratory diseases, age-sex standardized incidence rates decreased with the distance but did not show statistically significant (P value=0.25).
Conclusions: This study found association between the incidence rates of acute lower respiratory diseases and the distance from the open dump site. It is evidence that data from HDC databases benefits in public health surveillance.