Spatial Analysis of Post-Tsunami Malaria Cases at Johan Pahlawan Distrct, West Aceh
ABSTRACT
Abdullah, Hari Kusnanto, Anis Fuad
Background: Johan Pahlawan was one of districts in the area of West Aceh which experienced tsunami on Desember 26, 2006. After the disaster, it was predicted the increasing of various disease because of water, density, food emergency, and improper housing. The tsunami caused the increasing of sea water to the land as ± 3 kilometers, and the impact was water precipitations on the holes which have existed before the tsunami and also which created at the tsunami happened. Those places became new places for the anopheles mosquito grew. It was reported the increasing number of malaria incidents in the post-tsunami evacuation area, so that it needed geographical mapping of malaria cases.
Objectives: This study aimed to find out the malaria incidents post-tsunami disaster and the correlation of malaria incidents in tsunami experienced areas and non-tsunami experienced areas.
Methods: This was an analytical study with cross sectional approach. Sample for this study was all malaria incidents in Johan Pahlawan District, West Aceh during 2005 and 2006. The coordinate points of patients’ addresses were taken by using the Global Positioning Service (GPS).
Results: The results showed that correlations between malaria incidents and the use of land were as follows: the residential areas p = 0.965 in 2005 and p = 0.447 in 2006 (p > 0.05); the agriculture areas p = 0.00004 in 2005 and p = 0.0007 in 2006 (p < 0.05); the fishpond/pool areas p = 0.503 in 2005 and p = 0.953 in 2006 (p > 0.05), the rice field areas p = 0.0002 in 2005 and p = 0.001 (p < 0.05), the swamp areas p = 0.414 in 2005 and p = 0.929 in 2006 (p > 0.05) , and the wild jungle p = 0.074 in 2005 and p = 0.311 in 2006 (p > 0.05). The differences of malaria incidents in the tsunami experienced areas and non-tsunami experienced areas were t = -0.213, p = 0.833 in 2005 and t = 0.893, p = 0.383 in 2006 (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: The distribution patterns of malaria cases in Johan Pahlawan were correlated to the use of agriculture areas and rice field areas; meanwhile, they were not related to the use of pool areas, wild jungle, and residential areas. There were no differences between malaria prevalence in tsunami experienced areas and non-tsunami experienced areas.
Keywords: Malaria incidents, GIS, post-tsunami, the use of land.