[Knowledge, attitudes and practice regarding dengue in a neighborhood forming part of the city of Cartagena].
OBJECTIVE
Identifying attitudes, practice and knowledge regarding dengue in a neighborhood of the city of Cartagena.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study of 870 people living in a neighborhood in the south-eastern part of Cartagena. Probabilistic, randomized, three-staged sampling was used; it was intended to ascertain attitudes, practice and knowledge about dengue. The Stata statistics package (version 11.1) was used for analyzing the data to determine the absolute and relative frequency for each variable studied.


RESULTS
It was found that 93.7 % of those surveyed knew about the disease; although 49.7 % did not know what the causal agent of the disease was, 80.5 % of those surveyed did express an interest. In receiving health education classes. 60.1 % of the population surveyed here stored water in their homes and 73.8 % used tanks as containers. 24.8 % of those surveyed stated that they avoided having/using stagnant water.


CONCLUSIONS
The residents confirmed the high incidence of dengue cases reported by the district health department. Knowledge about dengue was limited; risky practices favoring the disease's development were adopted, but an attitude towards controlling this issue was evident. Changes in current behavior patterns must thus be promoted in the community and also regarding how prevention and control programs are being carried out.
Universidad de San Buenaventura, Cartagena, Colombia, jhernandez@usbctg.edu.co.
Jacqueline
J
Hernández-Escolar
Universidad de San Buenaventura, Cartagena, Colombia, jhernandez@usbctg.edu.co.
Claudia
C
Consuegra-Mayor
Universidad Simón Bolívar, Barranquilla, Colombia, aherazo4@unisimonbolivar.edu.co.
Yaneth
Y
Herazo-Beltrán
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000330:Aedes / Q000254:growth & development / Q000821:virology; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002947:Cities; D003105:Colombia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003715:Dengue / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000254:growth & development / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health; D014505:Urban Population; D014881:Water Supply; D055815:Young Adult