Gonorrhea Disease Mapping in Malaysia Using Standardized Morbidity Ratio

Abstract

Gonorrhea is a type of sexually transmitted infections (STI) which can cause serious and permanent health problems in both men and women if untreated. It became a common cause for other diseases, such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and may even lead to extrauterine pregnancy, infertility, and increased risk of HIV infection. It can also be transmitted, which could threaten a babys life if the pregnant mother is infected. The number of gonorrhea cases reported in Malaysia continue to increase from year after year. Mapping the disease is able to provide a clear picture of the risk areas and can be used for prevention strategies in controlling the disease. This study aims to estimate the relative risk for gonorrhoea cases in Malaysia using SMR; later the relative risk values are used for constructing disease mapping based on 2017 data. As all states have been considered in this study, the value representing gonorrhoea risk areas is displayed on a map of Malaysia. Sarawak ranks highest in risk area of contracting gonorrhoea whilst Selangor ranks lowest.