Statistical Modeling for the Identification of Determinants of Dengue Transmission in Different Districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Dengue is a major vector-borne disease and a significant public health concern in developing countries like Pakistan. The lack of preventive measures against dengue often results in fatalities across various age groups in the country. This study aimed to analyze the determinants of dengue prevalence in selected districts of Pakistan. A cross-sectional study using a two-stage cluster sampling design was conducted across various districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Data were collected using a validated questionnaire, and logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the determinants of dengue. Of 492 suspected dengue cases, 64.4% were males, 41.3% lacked dengue knowledge, 53.9% reported one to three mosquito bites daily, and 43.3% did not protect stagnant water at home. The majority (63.0%) were not using bed nets for mosquito protection. Binary regression identified significant risk factors for dengue (P <0.05), including male gender, age 16-30 years old, joint or large family living situation, lack of education, low income, not using bed nets, poor dengue knowledge, more than three mosquito bites daily, and unprotected stagnant water. The final multiple logistic regression model highlighted family income, long distance to the nearest health center, lack of bed net usage, and unprotected stagnant water as key socioeconomic determinants (P <0.05) of dengue. Several significant risk factors for dengue were identified across different districts of KP. This information is crucial for policymakers to design targeted prevention strategies aimed at reducing dengue prevalence and associated fatalities.