RISK-FACTORS ASSESSMENT FOR TRYPANOSOMA-BRUCEI-RHODESIENSE SLEEPING SICKNESS ACQUISITION IN SE UGANDA - A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

The major risk factors associated with acquisition of T. b. rhodesiens e sleeping sickness in the Busoga focus, S.E. Uganda, were investigate d using a case-control study. 122 cases and 244 matched controls were used in the study. For each case two age-, sex- and residence controls (1 matched nearest neighbour control and 1 village control) were sele cted. Patients and controls answered the same questionnaire which had been developed and field tested before and the field study started. A logistic regression model for a 1:2 matched case control design was fi t to the data. The following factors were found significant: cases spe nt more time outside their village of residence than controls and visi ted more SS high risk areas than controls, more cases than controls co llected firewood in the forests. Generally, cases had less domestic an imals grazing near the places of man-fly contact, especially near wate r and firewood collecting and bathing points, and near farms and garde ns, than controls. Cases had more antecedents of sleeping sickenss in the family. Generally cases had a less well developed information netw ork than controls, and belonged economically to a less powerful group. Based on these results we may conclude that the risk to develop T.b. rhodesiense sleeping sickness depends upon a multitude of economical, cultural and human behaviour factors. These factors should be taken in to account in the planning and monitoring of sleeping sickness control programmes.