Remote Sensing-Based Assessment of Environmental Determinants Influencing Malaria Distribution in Kano Metropolis

Malaria transmission is heavily conditioned by environmental determinants, while intra-urban spatial variability of these determinants is underinvestigated in most African cities. This research uses remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to evaluate the spatial distribution of important environmental determinants like Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Land Surface Temperature (LST), and Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) and the combined influence on malaria risk in Kano Metropolis, Nigeria. Satellite imagery from the Landsat 8 was edited to extract NDVI, LST, and LULC maps. A multi-criteria assessment approach was then undertaken to combine these parameters in a composite malaria risk map. Findings indicate a clear spatial gradient: urban core Local Government Areas (LGAs) such as Kano Municipal have lower NDVI, higher LST, and majority built-up cover, reflecting an urban heat island. By contrast, peripheral LGAs such as Kumbotso and Ungogo have higher vegetation cover and lower temperature. The analysis illustrates that high LST areas and moderate-to-high rainfall areas, especially in the southern and peri-urban LGAs, overlap with previously identified malaria high-risk areas. These conditions quicken mosquito and parasite development life cycles. In any case, results highlight that malaria risk in Kano Metropolis is non-uniform and conditioned by a complex set of urbanization-induced environment changes. The resultant risk map significantly identifies hotspots and serves as an important spatial tool, which public health authorities could utilize to guide and target intervention measures, hence towards a more efficient and data-informed malaria control program in the metropolis.