Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice towards Dengue: A Study among the Inhabitants of Malibagh of Dhaka city, Bangladesh

Background: Dengue remains a major public health challenge causing death among many people in Bangladesh. The magnitude of dengue-related illness and death has significantly increased over recent years. Study was conducted to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to Dengue fever. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among a total of ۱۹۳ males and females who consented to participate in the study. Respondents were included purposively from selected areas in Malibagh an area classified as a stable dengue-prone region of the capital city. The survey was carried out by face-to-face interview using a pre-tested standardized and structured questionnaire. Results: The results reveal that dengue infection occurred in ۲۰.۲% of residents. Only ۲۷.۵% had a good knowledge score (۸ out of ۱۱ items), and ۸۳.۹% had a positive attitude, while ۳۴.۲% had a good compliance practice.  Knowledge was significantly associated with education, income, and age (p < ۰.۰۵). Misconceptions existed about the transmission of dengue – more than one-third (۳۶.۸%) reported that the Aedes aegypti mosquito could only breed in clean water, and ۳۲.۱% were aware of the biting time of the mosquito. Most participants (۵۵.۴%) strongly agreed that dengue is a serious illness, and over half (۶۵.۳%) reported that it could be prevented with coverage of vector control interventions. The majority (۶۴.۲%) used mosquito nets as a preventive measure, while over one-third (۳۵.۲%) reported they discarded waste, containers, and non-used bottles across their yards that hold water. Although the respondents had quite positive attitude of preventive measures regarding dengue (۸۳.۹%), a sizeable number (۳۴.۲%) did not put this attitude into practice. Conclusion: Poorly planned urbanization combined with an explosive urban population in the capital city has brought the mosquito and the human host into close proximity. The government should launch health education programs on dengue prevention to educate the community members, addressing misconceptions about their preventive measures and on how they could eliminate the risk factors related to practices.

Keywords:

Dengue-Aedes mosquito , Knowledge , Attitude , Practice , Bangladesh