title: Targeting educational campaigns for prevention of malaria and dengue fever: an assessment in Thailand.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The current study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of at-risk populations for malaria and/or dengue fever in relation to mosquito exposure and household mosquito control practices. Specific objectives included comparison of individual and household level health practices between a rural and urban setting in Thailand. Findings are intended to guide Thailand Ministry of Health educational campaigns targeting arthropod-borne disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  A mixed method design was employed using a forced choice and open-ended questionnaire to assess KAP of participants seeking point-of-care treatment for malaria and/or dengue fever at government health-care facilities. Following informed consent, household construction characterization (percent eave gap, floor, wall, and roof material) and mosquito collections both indoors (using aspiration) and outside (using traps) were conducted at a subsample of participant homes. All mosquitoes were identified to genus and anopheline and aedine samples processed for potential pathogen infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 64 participants were recruited from both study sites; 62 categorized as malaria symptomology and 2 categorized as dengue across all study healthcare facilities. Significant associations between study site and household construction were indicated. Trends also identified household level practices and both occupation and household construction regarding type of mosquito control products purchased and the abundance of mosquitoes in sampled homes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, Ministry of Health information from education campaigns regarding malaria and dengue fever strategies is reaching the intended target populations at the study sites. Participants are aware of the presence of mosquitoes and that they serve as the potential vector for transmitting malaria and dengue fever diseases. However, specific knowledge gaps were also identified in each study site that may influence exposure to infected mosquitoes. Findings from this study are intended to guide future health education campaigns in these study settings to address specific community needs.
authors.affiliation: Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, 120 Brownson Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA. mbrusich@alumni.nd.org.
authors.forename: Macy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brusich
authors.affiliation: Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, 120 Brownson Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA. jgrieco@nd.edu.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grieco
authors.affiliation: Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, 120 Brownson Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA. npenney@nd.edu.
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Penney
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngam Wong Wan Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand. rungarun_tis@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Rungarun
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tisgratog
authors.affiliation: The Office of Disease Prevention and Control 3 Chonburi, Vachiraprakarn Road, Bansuan, Subdistrict, MuangDstrict, Chonburi, 20000, Thailand. ritthison@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Wanapa
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ritthison
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngam Wong Wan Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand. faasthc@ku.ac.th.
authors.forename: Theeraphap
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chareonviriyaphap
authors.affiliation: Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, 120 Brownson Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA. nachee@nd.edu.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Achee
mesh_terms: D003715:Dengue / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand