Perception of the population on the role of authorities and communities in controlling arboviruses

Abstract

The environmental control for prevention of arboviruses depends both on the actions of public authorities and the involvement of communities. The present study analyzed the perception of 385 citizens of 17 municipalities from the 5 regions of Brazil regarding the actions of the authorities and the community itself in relation to the control and prevention of dengue. The participants acknowledged that actions such as basic sanitation, regular waste collection, inspection of vacant lots and closed homes have often been neglected by the authorities. There was a tendency to hold the community accountable, through the example of neighbors who do not carry out prevention procedures. It was also noteworthy the silencing around unfavorable social conditions that can hinder the implementation of prevention procedures. We also reflected on the damage that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused to preventive practices and its possible future impacts.