Household-Based Survey on Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices towards Dengue Infection and Prevention in a Semi-Urban Area (Ja-Ela MOH Area)

AbstractIntroduction: Dengue is the most prevalent infectious mosquito-borne viral infection in the world. Over time dengue has caused high mortality and morbidity.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice among ۵۱۰ residents of Ja-Ela MOH area using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Ethical clearance was obtained from the National Institute of Health Science Kalutara.Results: The majority (۵۰.۸%) of the respondents were females, and the mean age of the sample was ۴۳.۷±۱۶.۷ years. The study results showed that ۵۶.۵% (n = ۲۸۸), ۵۲.۹% (n = ۲۷۰), and ۵۰.۷% (n = ۲۵۷) of the sample had good knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) towards dengue prevention, respectively. Good knowledge is significantly associated with ۴۱-۶۰ years of age (odds ratio [OR] = ۲.۵۱۳, P < ۰.۰۰۱), secondary education or higher (OR = ۱.۸۵۷, P = ۰.۰۰۸), and a monthly income of LKR ۲۰ ۰۰۰–۴۰ ۰۰۰ and more than ۴۰ ۰۰۰ (OR = ۰.۴۷۷, P = ۰.۰۱۶; OR = ۰.۴۴۰, P = ۰.۰۱۵). Non-Sinhalese nationality (OR = ۰.۱۸۰, P = ۰.۰۳۳) was associated with poor levels of knowledge. Good attitudes towards the prevention of dengue were found in males (OR = ۲.۰۹۵, P = ۰.۰۰۱), unemployed individuals (OR = ۱.۷۵۹, P = ۰.۰۱۸), and individuals with a monthly income of < LKR ۲۰۰۰۰ (OR = ۲.۳۹۳, P = ۰.۰۰۱). Poor practices towards dengue prevention were found in other nationalities compared to Sinhalese (OR = ۰.۱۰۴, P = ۰.۰۰۱) while Roman Catholics had poor practices towards dengue prevention (OR = ۰.۶۷۷, P = ۰.۰۴۱). The study shows that the experience of dengue is positively associated with better attitudes towards dengue prevention (Mann-Whitney U test; P < ۰.۰۰۱).Conclusion: KAPs were not significantly correlated with each other. Targeted health education and promotion programmes provided for specific populations should be considered a priority activity.

Keywords:

Dengue , Knowledge , Attitude , Practices , Sri Lanka