Urban ecology and dengue hemorrhogic fever : a community study in Bangkok

Abstract

This qualitative research studies urban ecology as well as social condition, culture, economy, behaviors and daily routines related to spreading dengue hemorrhogic fever among local people in Amphawa Community. Research tools consist of Breteau Index, in-depth interviews, interviewing informants and structural observations. Furthermore, sample groups were selected from local people. The results of the study show that there are several factors influencing dengue hemorrhogic fever in Amphawa Community. As for physical factor, a considerable number of houses were built close to each other. Many houses that are old and narrow were made from available materials that could not protect people from mosquitoes. In addition, there were a lot of rotten stuffs lying in the spaces between the houses, facilitating mosquito persistance. Vacant lands in the community were used for placing many things including garbage and useless containers that provide shelter for mosquitoes in rainy seasons. Furthermore, in dark bathrooms there were water containers or cement buckets for tap water that were not replenished regularly therefore, they were good places for striped mosquito larvae in the community. Moreover, the social condition, economy, culture, ways of life and behaviors in daily routines, for instance relaxation, spare time activities, water use, house location and cleaning facilitate the life cycle of striped mosquitoes. Thereby, the community has a high risk of dengue hemorrhogic fever related to local need to live in an urban ecology which encourages striped mosquitoes. Since most of the local people are poor, they moved into several communities in the city. Thus, the government should pay attention to the poverty problem of rural people in order to protect city migrants. Furthermore, the current problem of urban ecology should be dealt with in order to solve the problem of dengue hemorrhogic fever in urban areas.;