Spatial Distribution of Environmental Health Hazards and Their Relationship with Disease Burden in Katsina State, North West Nigeria

The spatial distribution of environmental health hazards, including contaminated water sources, poor sanitation, and air pollution hotspots, is rarely mapped in relation to disease burden data in Nigerian states, limiting targeted intervention planning. This study analyzed the spatial distribution of environmental health hazards and their association with disease burden indicators in Katsina State, North West Nigeria. Environmental hazard data were compiled from the State Ministry of Environment, NESREA inspection records, and primary field surveys conducted in twenty local government areas. Disease burden data, including DALYs lost and cause-specific morbidity rates, were extracted from the Katsina State Health Management Information System for the period 2020 to 2023. Geographic Information System mapping was used to overlay hazard and disease data. Spatial regression models incorporating inverse distance weighting were applied to analyze hazard-disease burden relationships. Results demonstrated statistically significant spatial clustering of high disease burden in LGAs with low WASH coverage and high density of unmanaged waste sites. Waterborne disease DALYs were most strongly predicted by fecal coliform contamination risk scores derived from water source quality data. Agricultural communities using pesticides without safety controls had significantly higher rates of liver disease compared to non-agricultural LGAs. The study makes an original contribution by integrating GIS-based hazard mapping with disease burden analysis at state level. Recommendations include hazard-prioritized intervention programming, spatial epidemiology integration into state health planning, and monitoring of high-hazard zones. Keywords: spatial distribution, environmental hazards, disease burden, Katsina State, GIS mapping.