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Background <p>Lassa fever (LF), is a viral hemorrhagic illness endemic to West Africa and poses significant public health challenges. This study explores and identifies socioeconomic, and environmental markers contributing to transmission of LF in Lower Bambara Chiefdom, Kenema District, Eastern Sierra Leone.</p> Methods <p>A descriptive cross-sectional quantitative survey was used, and through stratified sampling and a systematic data collection approach, we selected 26 enumeration areas (EAs) generating 2,167 households. A structured questionnaire was administered to capture respondents’ demographics, community characteristics, and LF-related risk factors. Statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). These included descriptive statistics to summarize the data, Chi-square tests to assess associations between categorical variables, and bivariate analyses specifically cross-tabulations and Chi-square tests to identify potential risk factors and correlations between sociodemographic/environmental variables and LF transmission.</p> Results <p>Less-bushy surroundings (53.9% to 73.5%); common mixed farming practice (61.5%); standpipes water source (40.5%) and waste burning practice (77.3%) are the most dominant environmental markers. Socioeconomic markers: farming (53.9%); construction materials included mud walls (72.0%) and zinc roofing (90.0%). Logging activities (36.9%) were conducted close to residential areas, with an average distance of just 14.7&#xa0;m. Demographic variables sex, age, education, occupation, and relationship to the household head were statistically significant to LF transmission (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Environmental and socioeconomic markers such as farming practices, construction materials, palm-fruit storage, slashing and burning activities were significant (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) LF transmission markers.</p> Conclusion <p>In conclusion, demographic factors and poor environmental and socioeconomic practices like inadequate waste disposal, close proximity to logging sites and unsafe farming practices were significantly associated with LF transmission. These findings highlight areas that community education and environmental sanitation should be prioritised by public health policymakers and community-based prevention programs.</p>

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Socioeconomic and environmental predictors of lassa fever transmission in Lower Bambara Chiefdom, Kenema District, Eastern Sierra Leone

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年10月31日

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  • Abu-Bakarr S. Kamara,
  • Andrew Moseray,
  • Patrick Fatoma,
  • Joseph Morison Lamin,
  • Osman A. Sankoh,
  • Mohamed Kemoh Rogers

摘要

Background

Lassa fever (LF), is a viral hemorrhagic illness endemic to West Africa and poses significant public health challenges. This study explores and identifies socioeconomic, and environmental markers contributing to transmission of LF in Lower Bambara Chiefdom, Kenema District, Eastern Sierra Leone.

Methods

A descriptive cross-sectional quantitative survey was used, and through stratified sampling and a systematic data collection approach, we selected 26 enumeration areas (EAs) generating 2,167 households. A structured questionnaire was administered to capture respondents’ demographics, community characteristics, and LF-related risk factors. Statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). These included descriptive statistics to summarize the data, Chi-square tests to assess associations between categorical variables, and bivariate analyses specifically cross-tabulations and Chi-square tests to identify potential risk factors and correlations between sociodemographic/environmental variables and LF transmission.

Results

Less-bushy surroundings (53.9% to 73.5%); common mixed farming practice (61.5%); standpipes water source (40.5%) and waste burning practice (77.3%) are the most dominant environmental markers. Socioeconomic markers: farming (53.9%); construction materials included mud walls (72.0%) and zinc roofing (90.0%). Logging activities (36.9%) were conducted close to residential areas, with an average distance of just 14.7 m. Demographic variables sex, age, education, occupation, and relationship to the household head were statistically significant to LF transmission (p < 0.05). Environmental and socioeconomic markers such as farming practices, construction materials, palm-fruit storage, slashing and burning activities were significant (p < 0.05) LF transmission markers.

Conclusion

In conclusion, demographic factors and poor environmental and socioeconomic practices like inadequate waste disposal, close proximity to logging sites and unsafe farming practices were significantly associated with LF transmission. These findings highlight areas that community education and environmental sanitation should be prioritised by public health policymakers and community-based prevention programs.