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The Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition
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ISSN: 1606-0997 EISSN: 1606-0997
Vol. 31, No. 4, 2013, pp. 424-434
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Bioline Code: hn13052
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
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The Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, Vol. 31, No. 4, 2013, pp. 424-434
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A Qualitative Exploration of Social Contact Patterns Relevant to Airborne Infectious Diseases in Northwest Bangladesh
Feenstra, Sabiena G.; Nahar, Quamrun; Pahan, David; Oskam, Linda & Richardus, Jan Hendrik
Abstract
In South Asia, the burden of infectious diseases is high. Socioeconomically and culturally-defined social
interaction patterns are considered to be an important determinant in the spread of diseases that are transmitted
through person-to-person contact. Understanding of the contact patterns in this region can be
helpful to develop more effective control measures. Focus group discussions were used in exploring social
contact patterns in northwest Bangladesh. The patterns were assessed for perceived relevance to the spread
of airborne infectious diseases, with special focus on diseases, like leprosy and tuberculosis, in which the
role of social determinants is well-recognized. Highly-relevant social contact patterns inside the home and
the neighbourhood, across age and sex groups, were reported in all group discussions. Outside the home,
women and girls reported relevant contacts limited to the close neighbourhood while men mentioned
high relevant contacts beyond. This implies that, in theory, infectious diseases can easily be transmitted
across age and sex groups in and around the home. Adult men might play a role in the transmission of
airborne infectious diseases from outside this confined area since only this group reported highly-relevant
social contacts beyond the home. This concept needs further exploration but control programmes in the
South Asian region could benefit from considering differences in social contact patterns by gender for risk
assessments and planning of preventive interventions.
Keywords
Airborne infectious diseases; Leprosy; Social contact patterns; Tuberculosis; Bangladesh
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