Relative Risk Estimation for the Epidemiology of Hepatitis B in Malaysia: An Analysis Based on SMR Method and Poisson- Gamma Model (61 - 68)

Abstract

Disease mapping is used to display the geographical distribution of disease occurrence. The focus of a disease mapping is to estimate the true relative risk of a disease and to display the disease risk on map so that further attention can be made. In Malaysia, there are no specific methods that are used to estimate the relative risk of Acute and Chronic Hepatitis B. The areas that are reported to have high number of cases are spotted to have a high risk area for the disease, whereas the area with low number of cases spotted as low risk area for disease. Therefore, the main objective of this research is to find a better method to estimate the relative risk of Acute and Chronic Hepatitis B in Malaysia. This study will used the commonest methods that are the Standardized Morbidity Ratio (SMR) and Poisson-gamma model based on count data of Acute and Chronic Hepatitis B in Malaysia. For the Poissongamma model, the data are analysed using WinBUGS software. In this research, the results of relative risk estimation based on SMR will be compared to Poisson Gamma Model by using graph, maps and tables. At the end of this study, it is expected that a better method can be used to estimate the relative risk and produced an accurate disease maps for Acute and Chronic Hepatitis B in Malaysia.