Spatiotemporal Analysis of Nodding Syndrome in Northern Uganda 1990-2014
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Date
2020-02-17
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Scientific Science Publishing
Abstract
The emergence of nodding syndrome (NS) in Northern Uganda has generated controversial views with respect to patterns, natural history, and aetiology of the disease which is yet unknown. This study explored spatial patterns of NS using spatialtemporal methods to establish its clustering patterns across both space and time. Village and year of NS onset for individual patients between the years 1990 and 2014 were entered as input for spatial and temporal analysis in the 6 districts in northern Uganda where it is prevalent. Our temporal results showed that NS onset started before the population was moved in Internally Displaced People’s (IDPs) ca mps. It also shows that NS continued to be reported during the IDPs and after people had left the IDPs. Our spatial and spatiotemporal analysis showed that two periods had persistent NS clusters. These were 2000-2004 and 20102014, coinciding with the peri od when the population was in the IDP camps and when the population was already out of the camps, respectively. Our conclusion is that the view of associating NS outbreak with living conditions in IDP camps is thus coincidental. We, therefore, contend that the actual aetiological factor of NS is still at large.
Description
Acknowledgements:
We would like to acknowledge Makerere University for accepting to sponsor staff development of sister public universities. Particularly staff of Gulu University (Mr. OngayaKizito), staff of Kyambogo University (Mr. Atulinde Augustus). This study was funded in part by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and Makerere University under Sida contribution No: 51180060. We would like to acknowledge senior staff and mentors from Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Centre for Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Lund University, Sweden and Makerere University School of Computing and Informatics Technology for spearheading the effort to implement “The Spatially Enabled E-Services Diversity” (TSEED) Project from which this paper emanates. Conflicts of Interest References This research is being carried out for academic purpose as part of doctoral program in Information Systems of Makerere University, Kampala Uganda. The authors hereby declare no conflict of interest whatsoever, in this research.
Keywords
Nodding Syndrome, Spatiotemporal,, Spatial Analysis ,, Northern Uganda
Citation
Ongaya, K., Aturinde, A., Farnaghi, M., Mansourian, A., Maiga, G., Oyo, B. and Bagarukayo, (2020) Spatiote E. mporal Analysis of Nodding Syndrome in Northern Uganda 1990-2014 . Health, 1 2, 180-193.