[Dengue vector control and community participation in Catanduva, São Paulo State, Brazil].
This study aimed to identify changes in knowledge and practices learned to prevent dengue fever in two areas of Catanduva, São Paulo State, from 1999 to 2001: a study area and a control area. The study included an initial quantitative survey, qualitative research, a preliminary diagnosis presented to the community to launch a discussion aimed at defining future actions, implementation of the actions in the study area with community participation (but without changes in the control area), and a final comparison of the two areas. Changes in the study area included: vector control workers began demonstrating preventive measures without removing potential breeding places or using larvicide; use of educational aids specific to the local reality; activities related to the residents  priorities; and activities such as music, theater skits, scavenger hunts, and games to demonstrate the vector cycle. Potential domiciliary breeding sites were significantly reduced; the proportion of houses without breeding sites was significantly increased; and there was an increase in the percentage of individuals who recognized the larval form of the vector in the study area as compared to the control area.
Chiaravalloti Neto
Francisco
F
Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, São José do Rio Preto, SP, 15060-040, Brasil. fcneto@famerp.br
Fiorin
Ana M
AM
Conversani
Danaé T
DT
Cesarino
Marisa B
MB
Barbosa
Angelita A C
AA
Dibo
Margareth R
MR
Morais
Maria S
MS
Baglini
Virgínia
V
Ferraz
Amena A
AA
Rosa
Ricardo S
RS
Battigaglia
Marcos
M
Cardoso
Rubens P
RP
D000330:Aedes; D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D003256:Community Participation; D003715:Dengue / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000379:methods*; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population