SPATIAL ANALYSIS AND MAPPING MALARIA RISK ASSOCIATED WITH ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS USING GIS AND REMOTE SENSING: IN CASE MIRAB ABAYA WOREDA, GAMO ZONE, SNNPR, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Malaria, now days, is one of the main health problem in the world. In poor continents like Africa the problem is very serious and dangerous because of several factors. Objective: the main objective of this study is to assess and develop a Malaria risk susceptibility hot spot areas and Malaria risk map of Mirab Abaya woreda using Remote Sensing and GIS techniques. During the present study, a Malaria-risk map of Mirab Abaya woreda was prepared by establishing the relationship of various climatic and non-climatic variables related to the disease. Methodology: Weighted overlay technique of multi-criteria evaluation was used to prepare the malaria-risk map. Temperature, rainfall, elevation, slope, distance from rivers, distance from lakes and ponds, and land-use/land-cover patterns were used to identify Malaria-risk areas. Malaria risk factor layers were overlaid, and further verified by ground truth and reports of Malaria cases to produce the final Malaria-risk map. Result: the final malaria risk map of the study area, which shows the level of malaria risk in an extent of 16384.16 hectare (26.72%) as very high, 19621.97 hectare (32.12%) high, 13489.96 hectare (22.54%) moderate and 11037.24 hectare (18.62 %) low. Four categories of Malaria-risk ranging from very high to low were derived. Conclusion Thus, most of the study area is subjected to high and very high Malaria risk. Recommendation: GIS and Remote Sensing technology makes vector born diseases prevention and control program easy by enabling to map the breeding habitat, risk level and to make prediction to establish early warning system for impending epidemics. So, if possible the Woreda health office could use the technology for vector born disease prevention and control programs.