How Income and Water Storage Practices Help Mosquito-Borne Diseases Spread and Thrive in Urban Cities

Overview: 

Malaria is a major public health concern in many low- and middle-income countries, including India. While often considered a rural disease, malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue and chikungunya are increasingly affecting urban areas as mosquitoes adapt to city environments. 

However, less is known about how factors such as income, caste, family size, water access, and water storage practices influence both disease risk and prevention behaviors in cities. This OHT collaborative study, led by Dr. Deepshikha Batheja and Dr. Arindam Nandi, explores how social and household factors influence malaria and other mosquito-borne disease risks in urban Gujarat, India. 

The Question:  

How do socioeconomic factors such as wealth and caste affect malaria and other vector-borne disease spread and burdens in urban areas?  

The Findings: 

The researchers surveyed 4,074 households, covering 15,484 individuals, in two cities of urban Gujarat, Ahmedabad and Surat, in Gujarat, India, between September and November 2023, and found that:  

• Disease prevalence was relatively low, with 77 reported cases of malaria, dengue, and chikungunya, about 19 cases per 1,000 households. 
• Socioeconomic status plays a significant role. Wealth, caste, and family size were strongly associated with both disease reporting and prevention practices. 
• Wealthier households were more likely to use prevention measures, but less likely to perceive themselves at risk from mosquito-borne diseases. 
• Water storage practices matter. Storing water in large, clean containers was linked to increased reporting of disease symptoms and greater use of prevention methods, highlighting the complex relationship between water management and mosquito breeding. 
• Households with sealed or impermeable containers were less likely to use active prevention measures. 

The study shows that urban malaria risk is influenced by not just mosquito ecology, but also by social inequality and everyday household practices. 

Reducing vulnerability to malaria and other vector-borne diseases in urban India will require targeted support for disadvantaged households; improved water storage practices; and greater investment in preventive care and community awareness.  

Read the article in Malaria Journal here.