Mapping the model of ecological vegetation as potential malaria habitats in a malaria-endemic region in Oesao Village, kupang regency, Indonesia Kristina Ragu Harming1, Subekti Sri2, Dachlan Yoes P.3, Martini Santi4, Nugroho Heru Santoso Wahito5,* 1Faculty of Public Health, Airlangga University Health Polytechnic of Kupang, Indonesia 2Faculty of Fisheries and Marine, Airlangga University, Indonesia 3Faculty of Medicine, Airlangga University, Indonesia 4Faculty of Public Health, Airlangga University 5Health Polytechnic of Surabaya, Indonesia *Corresponding Author: Heru Santoso Wahito Nugroho Health Polytechnic of Surabaya, Jalan Pucang Jajar Tengah 56, Surabaya, Indonesia. heruswn@gmail.com
Online published on 9 January, 2019. Abstract Environmental risk factors, both physical and biological (e.g. ecology of vegetation/plants, forest), equally serve as the risk factors for Anopheles mosquitos breeding. This study was designed to determine a model of spatial mapping for the ecology of vegetation and the potential habitats for the Anopheles mosquitos. Descriptive epidemiological research was implemented to carry out the project, supported with a cross-sectional design. The research took place in Kupang regency, Oesao village, lasting for 2 months from October to November 2014. The ecology of the vegetation and all habitats of the mosquitos in Oesao village were regarded as the population of the research. They were purposively sampled. The vegetation mapping revealed that the land area for rice fields is 169 ha, coconut and banana tress 56.68 ha, maize 67.03 ha, vegetable plants 59.53 ha, forages 21.52 ha, and forests 16.24 ha. The results of the mapping also revealed that the mosquitos breeding sites entail paddy fields, swamps, irrigation channels, and damps. The ecology of all types of plants mapped serves as potential habitats for the Anopheles mosquitos breeding sites. Plant ecology is quite varied in the Oesao Village, as well as extensive areas of the plant that are closely linked to inadequate growth and development of mosquitoes and specific species of Anopheles, An. vagus and An. annularis. Top Keywords Ecological vegetation mapping, Breeding sites, Malaria mosquitos. Top |