Knowledge, attitude and practice on dengue prevention and dengue seroprevalence in a dengue hotspot in Malaysia: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Dengue has become a global public health problem. Despite reactive efforts by the government in Malaysia, the dengue cases are on the increase. Adequate knowledge, positive attitude and correct practice for dengue control are essential to stamp out the disease. Hence, this study aims to assess the factors associated with dengue knowledge, attitude and practice (KAp), as well as the association with dengue igM and igG seropositivity. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in a closed, dengue endemic area with multi-storey dwellings. Five hundred individuals (aged 18 years and above) were approached for pre-tested KAp and seroprevalences assessment. the study showed only half of the total participants have good knowledge (50.7%) but they had insufficient knowledge about dengue during pregnancy. 53.2% of people had poor attitude and 50.2% reported poor practice for dengue control. Out of 85 respondents who agreed to participate in the dengue seroprevalence study, 74.1% (n = 63) were positive for dengue IgG and 7.1% (n = 6) were positive for dengue IgM. Among all sociodemographic variable, race is the only independent predicator for all KAp levels (p < 0.05). In conclusion, proactive and sustainable efforts are needed to bring a behavioural change among communities in order to fight dengue outbreaks in endemic areas. Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease caused by a flavivirus. There are four distinct serotypes of dengue virus, namely DEN-1, 2, 3 and 4. Female Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes are the primary and secondary vectors in Malaysia, respectively. Evidently, dengue is the most rapidly spreading arboviral disease in the world. The Global Burden of Disease reported that dengue incidence has multiplied to six-folds from 1990 to 2013, with Southeast Asia region contributing 52% of the disease burden 1. World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 50 million to 100 million cases occur annually 2 .The disease is currently endemic in more than 100 countries, with SouthEast Asia being among the worst affected region. Dengue fever was established in Malaysia ever since the first reported case of dengue in 1902. From then on, the numbers of cases continued to rise despite numerous initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Health to curb the disease 3,4. According to WHO, the recent cumulative case count in Malaysia from 1 Jan to 2 Mac 2019 was 157% higher than that of the same period in 2018 5. In addition, a total of 79,151 dengue cases have been reported until end of July 2019 nationwide, with Selangor state contributing more than 50% of the cases (n = 40,849, 51.6%) 6. Vector control and surveillance is still the mainstay of dengue prevention strategies since there is no specific treatment for disease and vaccination remains a non-viable option 7. Local programs like Communications for Behavorial Changes (COMBI) in Malaysia have proved their potential effect in reducing dengue morbidity 8 but it requires understanding from community as well 9. Besides, vector control measures ...

Dengue in Dhaka, Bangladesh: Hospital-based cross-sectional KAP assessment at Dhaka North and Dhaka South City Corporation area

“…Research into knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) provides information about healthrelated behaviours while sampling the awareness of a disease in a population; and therefore can play a critical role in the prevention of disease [19][20][21][22]. KAP assessments have been widely ascertained as potent tools in public health intervention research [23][24][25], where information on what participants know, believe and do could be used to promote specific behaviours and conducts that can improve health outcomes. With the rapidly increasing burden of dengue in Bangladesh, and in view of the recent rise in dengue deaths within the most populated city, there is a need for continuous assessment of people's knowledge, attitude and practice of the residents of Dhaka to devise intervention plans.…”

Systematic review on the current Public Health Challenges for Dengue Transmission Control and Prevention in the Philippines

“…Furthermore, linkages among government agencies and communities are also beneficial and effective for countering challenges with successful control programs (Ng, 2011), similar to the prompt collaboration between the LGUs, DOH, and the communities involved after Typhoon Haiyan, which was also applicable in the community-based control programs. Following that, routine or regular visits and inspections from assigned healthcare workers to individual households are then recommended to help induce an active and consistent participation among individuals in a more personal manner (Selvarajoo et al, 2020) along with the implementation of programs that would develop critical thinking and preventive practice for people for community-based control programs. This is since Dengue requires community participation to effectively combat the factors that propagate its spread, which could be done if sufficient budget is provided (Carandang et al, 2017), similar to how the DOH was able to implement an enhanced 4s strategy and disseminate different materials for destroying vector breeding sites and selfprotection earlier last year.…”

“…Its effectiveness can be further increased when taken with appropriate community education (Yboa and Labrague, 2013). The importance of health education in the prevention of dengue is apparent as it directly affects human knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) (Selvarajoo et al, 2020).…”

Pengendalian Demam Berdarah Dengue (DBD) Berbasis Masyarakat di Indonesia: Systematic Review

“…Mungkin pendekatan yang lebih personal dan praktis dalam program pendidikan kesehatan diperlukan untuk mempengaruhi perubahan perilaku. 18 Meskipun para peserta memiliki pengetahuan dasar mengenai vektor dan gejala penularan DBD dan umumnya menyadari keseriusan penyakit dan mempraktikkan beberapa tingkat pencegahan, masih banyak yang harus dilakukan untuk meningkatkan kapasitas masyarakat dalam memerangi demam berdarah. Kesenjangan dalam pengetahuan pencegahan, sikap terhadap risiko tertular, dan praktik pemusnahan sumber nyamuk, untuk beberapa nama, dapat diatasi melalui upaya pendidikan lebih lanjut.…”