Modelling the regional vulnerability to Echinococcosis based on environmental factors using fuzzy inference system: A case study of Lorestan Province, west of Iran
Background and aim: Echinococcosis as a zoonosis disease is one of the most important parasitic helminth that is affected by many risk factors such as the environmental factors. Thus, we predicted the regional vulnerability to Echinococcosis based on environmental factors using a fuzzy inference s...
Main Authors: | , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Electronic Physician
2017-12-01
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Series: | Electronic Physician |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5843439/ |
Summary: | Background and aim: Echinococcosis as a zoonosis disease is one of the most important parasitic helminth that
is affected by many risk factors such as the environmental factors. Thus, we predicted the regional vulnerability
to Echinococcosis based on environmental factors using a fuzzy inference system (FIS) in Lorestan Province.
Methods: Our study was cross-sectional study on 200 patients from Lorestan Province (west of Iran) who
underwent surgery for hydatidosis between October 2005 and November 2014. In order to model the
vulnerability to Echinococcosis, first we determined the effective environmental variables. In the next step, the
FIS was designed and implemented using MATLAB v.2012 software. Thus, definition and determination of
linguistic variables, linguistic values, and their range were performed based on expert knowledge. Then, the
membership functions of inputs (environmental variables) and output (vulnerability to Echinococcosis) were
defined. A fuzzy rules base was formed. Also, the defuzzification of output was done using a centroid
defuzzification function. To test the accuracy of the predictive model, we calculated the AUC (to this purpose, we
used four different thresholds, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) using IDRISI Selva v.17.0 software.
Results: Based on the results of this study, Aligoudarz and Koohdasht counties were identified as a highest and
lowest risk area in Lorestan, respectively. The results showed that a predictive model was more efficient than a
random model (AUC>0.5). Also, potential vulnerable areas cover 78.29% at threshold of 5%, 60.72% at
threshold of 10%, 43.54% at threshold of 15%, and 39.82% at threshold of 20% of the study area. Conclusion: According to the success of this research, we emphasized the necessity of attention to fuzzy
approach to model vulnerability to hydatidosis. This approach can provide a practical economic basis for making
informed preventive services decisions and the allocation of health resources. |
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ISSN: | 2008-5842 2008-5842 |