title: [Social representations concerning dengue, dengue vectors, and control activities among residents of São Sebastião on the northern coast of São Paulo State, Brazil].
abstract: This study sought to identify people's knowledge on dengue and its vector biology, aimed at promoting a communications channel between technical and lay reasoning in order to foster community involvement in dengue and dengue vector control activities. A survey was conducted in an Aedes aegypti-infested area with dengue transmission in São Sebastião on the northern coast of São Paulo State, Brazil. One hundred interviews were held, with five open questions on topics related to dengue and vector control. Collective Subject Discourse methodology was used in the analysis. People were not able to properly identify the kinds of accumulated water sources that serve as breeding places for mosquitoes and were unaware of the egg phase in vector development. There was inadequate awareness of vector biology and a need for greater government-community integration. Educational activities should incorporate the study results as insight for improving the social efficiency and efficacy of joint actions to fight dengue and control the mosquito vector.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Pesquisa do Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo, São Paulo, Brasil. ana@ipdsc.com.br
authors.forename: Ana Maria Cavalcanti
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lefèvre
authors.forename: Andressa Francisca
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Gisela Rita de Alvarenga Monteiro
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: Lígia Leandro Nunes
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Serpa
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lefèvre
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000330:Aedes / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D003256:Community Participation; D003715:Dengue / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000502:physiology*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009032:Mosquito Control; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012941:Social Responsibility