title: High Level of Awareness but Poor Practices Regarding Dengue Fever Control: A Cross-sectional Study from North India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Delhi, the capital of India, has suffered many outbreaks of dengue in recent past and despite the obvious magnitude of problem, very scarce evidence exists that documents the knowledge, awareness and practices of the people regarding dengue.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the knowledge and practices related to control of dengue fever and to assess the differences in knowledge and practices based on sex and literacy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted among persons visiting a tertiary care hospital in New Delhi. A systematic sampling procedure was adopted and a pretested questionnaire was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 215 individuals were interviewed. Majority of the respondents (96.3%) had heard about dengue. The important sources of information were television (54.9%) and newspaper/magazines (51.7%). Around 89% of the study participants considered dengue as "serious problem". Nearly 86% participants were aware of the spread of dengue by mosquitoes while 73% were aware of one of the correct breeding sites of Aedes mosquito. Mosquito mats/liquidators were used by 61% of respondents, coils by 56% and repellant creams by 22%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The awareness regarding dengue and mosquito control measures was satisfactory to an extent. Programs should focus that this knowledge gets translated into practice.
authors: Department of Community Medicine, Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry, India.
authors: Palanivel
authors: P
authors: Chinnakali
authors: Nishant
authors: N
authors: Gurnani
authors: Ravi Prakash
authors: RP
authors: Upadhyay
authors: Komal
authors: K
authors: Parmar
authors: Tejas M
authors: TM
authors: Suri
authors: Kapil
authors: K
authors: Yadav