Abstract:
Thalassemia, a hereditary blood disorder, poses a significant public health
concern in many regions, including Kurunegala District in Sri Lanka. This
research aims to investigate the prevalence patterns and trends of Thalassemia
patients, with a specific focus on patients who registered at the National
Thalassemia Center in Kurunegala District. The main objective of this study
is making geospatial analysis using ArcGIS software to map the distribution
of Thalassemia patients across the district and identify the patterns and trends.
The most Thalassemia patients have recorded in Kurunegala district. So the
research problem centers on understanding the spatial distribution, as well as
exploring potential contributing factors that may influence the prevalence
patterns. Data were collected from medical records and interviews affected
children and their families as secondary data and primary data. The maps
created through ArcGIS and Excel software showcased distinct spatial
patterns of Thalassemia and illustrating areas with varying prevalence rates.
special finding is Most of thalassemia patients are in East Half of the
Kurunegala district and it spread to the outer area. Most of that patients (more
than 50%) are children. Such insights can provide valuable information for
health authorities, policymakers, and healthcare practitioners to better allocate
resources and implement targeted interventions for Thalassemia prevention,
management, and awareness campaigns. Moreover, this research contributes
to the growing field of spatial epidemiology and highlights the potential
benefits of incorporating geospatial analysis in addressing public health
challenges like Thalassemia in kurunegala district.
