Geospatial analysis of thalassemia patients’ prevalence in district Gujrat, Pakistan in 2015-2016
Paper Details
Geospatial analysis of thalassemia patients’ prevalence in district Gujrat, Pakistan in 2015-2016
Abstract
Using Geographical Information System health analysis measures can contribute to the profound understanding of health related issues and disease occurrence for public awareness and forecasting essential improvements. The present research was designed to determine the cluster analysis of thalassemia patients in Gujrat district. A purposive sample comprised 142 thalassemia major survivors was gathered conveniently from the main and only center for thalassemia in Gujrat district Punjab, Pakistan. After marking spatial location of their home addresses in a point shape file the data were analyzed using geographic information system (GIS) technology and spatial analysis techniques. Kernel density function in ArcMap 10.3 enabled to identify clusters of thalassemia patients in Gujrat district. The patient data reveals that 95% of all cases were between 05-20 years of age. Based on incidence density and spatial maps, the results of the study revealed that the major cluster of thalassemia patients is located in tehsil Gujrat, Moreover, relatively fewer clusters of patients are found in Tehsil Kharian and Sara-i-Alamgir. Currently, only one thalassemia center i.e. Sundas Foundation is functioning in district Gujrat. The methodology and the results of this study may be beneficial in developing an integrated system to monitor, control and prevent this disease.
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