Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards Dengue Fever among the Population in Rural Community

Dengue virus belongs to family Flaviviridae, having four serotypes that spread by the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes. It causes a wide spectrum of illness from mild asymptomatic illness to severe fatal dengue haemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS). Approximately 2.5 billion people live in dengue-risk regions with about 100 million new cases each year worldwide. The cumulative dengue diseases burden has attained an unprecedented proportion in recent times with sharp increase in the size of human population at risk. Dengue disease presents highly complex pathophysiological, economic and ecologic problems. Dengue is known in India since 1940s, but the disease is very limited in its spread. Dengue is becoming rampant in many states of southern India. As of now, no specific treatments (therapies) or vaccines are available against the disease. AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice towards dengue fever among the population in rural community. OBJECTIVES: 1. To find out the socio demographic status of our study population. 2. To assess the health status of the individual related to dengue fever. 3. To assess the knowledge of symptoms, sign, and transmission mode of dengue infection. 4. To assess the attitude towards dengue fever. 5. To assess the preventive measures against dengue infection. METHODS: Study Site and Design: A cross sectional study is going to be conduct from July2017 to February 2018 in rural communities in katheri village, Salem district, Tamilnadu, India. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Study Period: This study was conducted over a period of 8 months from July 2017 to February 2018. Sample Size: Total sample size n=500. Sample size estimations were based on expected sample size is 500 and then the margin of error will be 4.37%. Expected population size of 10,000 and assumed sample proportion is 50%. It was also taken into consideration that 5% of all the filled up forms will be incomplete and rejected. Thus the total sample size taken was 500. Inclusion criteria: The participants were residents ofKatheri, who were living there for atleast one year. The age group for study population is 25 –70 years. Healthy individual members of household are the study population. Exclusion criteria: Participants having reported fever. People who had migrated from nearby villages and other districts within past one year are excluded from the study. CONCLUSION: 1. To conclude, most of the study population had experience dengue infection either in their family or social acquaintance. 2. The health educator who was appointed by the government had provided information related to dengue and its prevention, but it was not reached to all the population in and around the village. 3. Municipality has taken/initiated steps to controlling the mosquito and its breeding places but it was not a continuous process. 4. The study population has acquired low level of good knowledge in symptoms, breeding sites, prevention and treatment towards dengue fever but very poor towards its mode of transmission and mosquitos biting time. 5. The attitude of study population towards dengue shows good in response and the preventive practices were fair. 6. Therefore, there is an urgent need for educational campaigns and social mobilizations to raise the awareness and to translate knowledge into sound practice of people of this area regarding DF