Case-control study determining risk factors for dengue fever among patients attending selected hospitals in Mogadishu, Somalia

Dengue fever is a prevalent and rapidly spreading mosquito-borne viral illness, with the World Health Organization estimating that half of the global population is at risk. Annually, 100–400 million infections occur, rendering dengue fever a significant public health concern owing to its potentially fatal implications. This study primarily aimed to identify risk factors associated with dengue fever in Somalia to enhance control measures. An unmatched case-control study was conducted at Benadir and Kalkaal hospitals. A total of 146 participants (73 cases and 73 controls) were selected using purposive sampling. Cases included suspected dengue fever patients diagnosed through serological confirmation of dengue-specific NS-1 antigen or positive immunoglobulin M tests. Controls comprised suspected dengue fever patients confirmed to be serologically negative for dengue. Data were collected via questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS 20.0, with Descriptive statistics summarized the data, and those variables in bivariate analysis at a p-value less than 0.05 were entered into multivariate logistic regression to examine associations between exposure variables and dengue fever. Risk factor analysis indicated that individuals not using mosquito repellents or insecticides (adjusted OR [AOR] = 2.839, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.109-7.265p = 0.030), Not sleeping under mosquito nets (AOR = 3.597, 95% CI: 1.535–8.430, p = 0.003), and were significant risk factors. Additionally, not heard about dengue fever (AOR = 3.850; 95% CI: 1.544–9.599, p = 0.004), stagnant water near residences (AOR = 3.699; 95% CI: 1.605–8.521, p = 0.002), were significantly associated with an increased risk of dengue fever. The study found that the most significant risk factors for dengue fever are a lack of preventive measures and stagnant water near residences, implying that enhancing prevention and vector management is critical to reducing the risk.