Spatial Interaction between Lifestyles and Tuberculosis: An Expert and Public Participatory GIS in Malaysia

Abstract

Human lifestyle factors are potential contributing factors to tuberculosis (TB) transmission in Malaysia, but the previous studies have not comprehensively explored these factors by using geospatial and public perspectives. The aim of the study was to examine the impacts of lifestyle risk factors on TB cases in Shah Alam using an expert and public participatory GIS (PPGIS) approach with the 5-risk scale from 1 to 5. Local health experts have suggested that the overall risk scale of TB-lifestyle factors are 2.33 (medium risk) as revealed in the public perception and GIS map (2.08). Key findings have shown that the factors of obesity/weights, diet routine, living conditions, physical exercise and socioeconomic status become a potential threat to the local community to get TB infection, especially if all these factors combine together.