The Prevalence of Leishmaniasis in the Babylon and Al-Diwaniyah Governorates: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: In Iraq, leishmaniasis is a prevalent illness. Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease caused by a genus of single-celled parasites known as Leishmania, which is transmitted to humans by certain species of the disease-carrying sandflies.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey study design was used to carry out this study to determine the prevalence of leishmaniosis for the period between 2018 and 2022. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of Leishmaniasis in the governorates of Al-Diwaniyah and Babylon and to compare case numbers between the two governorates. The current investigation included an analysis of the available database obtained from the Department of Statistics in the Directorates of Health in Babylon and Al-Diwaniyah for the period between 2018 and 2022.

Results: The current study showed that the total number of infected people in Babylon Governorate was 1735 for the period from 2018 to 2022, and the percentage of infected males was higher over the years studied, and the most affected age group was less than twenty years. As for AL-Diwaniyah governorate, the total number of people infected with Leishmaniasis was 1810. The percentage of females in general was slightly more than that of males. With regard to age, the matter is similar to that of the Babylon governorate.

Conclusion: The current study concluded that the prevalence rate of Leishmaniasis in Al-Diwaniyah governorate was greater compared to Babylon governorate. This may be because Diwaniyah is an agricultural governorate with many disease vectors.