An analysis of the relationship between sociodemographic features and complaints of bed bug infestations at the population ward level in Toronto, Canada

• Main Author: Maruf Morshed
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Makhdoomi Printers 2012-01-01
• Series: Global Journal of Medicine and Public Health
• Subjects: Bed bugs; bed bug complaints; bed bug infestations; City of Toronto; sociodemographic features
• Online Access: http://gjmedph.com/uploads/O14-Vo1No5.pdf

Studies have pointed toward a resurgence of bed bugs. Many of these studies have identified several determinants such as distant and intermediate sociodemographic factors, responsible for the resurgence of this prehistoric pest. In this retrospective descriptive study with ecological association, Social Determinants of Health approach and Descriptive Correlation Research framework were used for predicting and explaining those possible relationships between the selected sociodemographic features (independent variables), and the number of bed bug complaints in 2009 and 2010 by ward-level (dependent variables) in Toronto. Independent variables like apartment buildings with <5 storeys (Spearman’s rho=0.555,p=0.006/rho=0.571,p=0.002), rental dwellings (rho=0.590,p<0.001/ rho=0.623,p<0.001), multi-family households (rho=-0.405,p=0.002/rho=-0.421,p=0.002), and work (Pearson correlation: r=0.538,p<0.001/r=0.600,p<0.001) and non-work (r=0.652,p<0.001/r=0.648,p<0.001) trips by transit appeared to have a relationship with the number of complaints received in 2009 and 2010. The aforesaid independent variables were responsible for 16-43% of variation in the number of complaints. This study was able to demonstrate a statistical correlation between some of these sociodemographic features, and bed bug infestations reflected in the complaints received by Toronto Public Health. The results of this particular study are considered to be helpful in increasing community partnerships and leadership from Toronto Public Health in dealing with various bed bug-related issues.