Graduation Semester and Year
2018
Language
English
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Mathematics
Department
Mathematics
First Advisor
Christopher Kribs
Abstract
Chagas disease is the world's most neglected tropical disease. Having a lack of cure makes the primary focus on the disease preventing it and controlling it. This study takes into account three different control measures: bed nets, low-volume insecticide spraying, and improving housing conditions, analyzes their cost effectiveness compared to each other, and determines which combination of the three control measures prevents the most T. cruzi infections in a rural Latin American village over a decade. It was shown that there is a a hierarchical importance in the control measures when preventing the spread of Chagas disease. In order of highest effectiveness, they are bed nets, low-volume insecticide spraying, and improving overall housing conditions. It was found that the most cost-effective scenario occurs when full coverage for bed nets and low-volume insecticide spraying is obtained, followed by devoting the remaining portion of the budget towards improving overall housing conditions. It was shown that if at least 36.30 USD per month is devoted to bed nets, then R₀ < 1.
Keywords
Chagas disease, Control measures
Disciplines
Mathematics | Physical Sciences and Mathematics
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Mastrome, Francis, "Optimal Control Methods for Chagas Disease" (2018). Mathematics Theses. 23.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/math_theses/23
Comments
Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington