title: Awareness of dengue and practice of dengue control among the semi-urban community: a cross sectional survey.
abstract: Primary prevention is the most effective measure in dengue prevention and control. The objectives were (i) to determine the level of knowledge and practice of dengue control amongst the study community, and (ii) to explore the factors affecting practice of dengue control in the study area. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a semi-urban Town of Malaysia, using a structured questionnaire covering sociodemography, knowledge related to dengue, knowledge related to Aedes mosquito and preventive measures against the disease. For comparison of survey responses, chi-square test was applied for categorical data. To explore the factors affecting the practice of dengue control, a linear regression model was introduced. Almost all of the respondents (95%) had heard about dengue. Overall, misconceptions of dengue transmission were identified and the practice of dengue control in the study population was insufficient. About half (50.5%) had misconceptions that Aedes can breed in dirty water and the preferred biting time is dusk or sunset (45.6%). Only 44.5% of the households surveyed had covered their water containers properly. Significant associations were found between knowledge scores of dengue and age (P = 0.001), education level (P = 0.001), marital status (P = 0.012), and occupation (P = 0.007). In regression analysis, only the knowledge of dengue was significantly and positively associated with practice on dengue control. A future study with larger samples and more variables to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of dengue control is recommended.
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Sciences, International Medical University, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. cho3699@gmail.com
authors.forename: Cho
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Naing
authors.forename: Wong Yih
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Chan Yuk
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Man
authors.forename: Koh Pei
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Fern
authors.forename: Chua
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Qiqi
authors.forename: Choo Ning
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Ning
authors.forename: Clarice Wong Syun
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Ee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000330:Aedes / Q000821:virology*; D000818:Animals; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003715:Dengue / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007302:Insect Repellents; D007303:Insect Vectors; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D007302:Insect Repellents