Factors Associated with the Occurrence of Dengue Fever in Southern Thailand

Abstract

This research aims to investigate the factors influencing the incidence of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) in Southern Thailand. The study utilizes secondary data from 2013 to 2023. The study examines meteorological factors, demographic factors, and public health infrastructure. The descriptive statistics to provide an overview of the outbreaks, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple regression analysis. The results indicate that:

1. Rainfall, relative humidity, and migration have a significant positive correlation with DHF incidence in Southern Thailand (p < 0.05)

2. Maximum temperature, minimum temperature, and population density demonstrate a significant negative correlation (p < 0.05).

3.​ The number of healthcare facilities, however, shows no significant impact on DHF incidence (p > 0.05).

Regarding policy implications, the findings suggest an urgent need to integrate meteorological data with population databases to develop early warning and disease forecasting systems, with a focus on resource allocation in border or transit areas experiencing high migration. In practice, public health officials should utilize rainfall and relative humidity thresholds as key indicators for initiating proactive mosquito breeding site eradication before peak outbreaks. Furthermore, strategies should shift from reactive care to community-based surveillance networks, particularly among mobile populations, to effectively intercept disease transmission at the local level.