title: Mosquito Biology and Mosquito-Borne Disease Awareness Among Island Communities In Malaysia.
abstract: Mosquito-borne diseases have been increasing at an alarming rate over the past decades. In Malaysia, one finds several important mosquito-borne diseases such as Japanese encephalitis, dengue, malaria, and chikungunya. Mosquito surveillance and control programs are the most effective way of detecting and controlling mosquito-borne diseases, but these programs are less effective without an aware and well-informed general public. In 2014 we used a questionnaire to evaluate the extent of awareness of basic mosquito biology and mosquito-borne diseases in 6 villages, Kampung Masjid, Kampung Teluk Gedung, Kampung Teluk Dalam, Kampung Ujung Kelawai, Kampung Sungai Pinang Besar, and Kampung Sungai Pinang Kechil on Pangkor Island, Malaysia. A total of 1,012 individuals responded to the questionnaire, consisting of 790 Malay (78.1%), 164 Chinese (16.2%), and 58 Indian (5.7%). More than 60% (Malay = 73.7%, Chinese = 64.0%, Indian = 79.3%) of the respondents were familiar with basic mosquito biology and practiced personal protection against mosquito bites, and the association was statistically significant (P = 0.02). However, the majority of the respondents had limited knowledge on mosquito-borne diseases, and this varied significantly among the 3 ethnic groups (P = 0.0001). Our recommendations are to improve and intensify public health education outreach programs to the island residents and to encourage community participation in vector control programs.
authors.forename: Aziz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shafie
authors.forename: Muhammad Aidil
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Roslan
authors.forename: Romano
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ngui
authors.forename: Yvonne Ai Lian
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Wan Yusoff Wan
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Sulaiman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001102:Arbovirus Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D009033:Culicidae / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000072138:Mosquito Vectors / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: awareness; island community; knowledge; mosquito-borne diseases; practice