A survey of knowledge, attitude and practice of the prevention of dengue hemorrhagic fever in an urban community of Thailand

Abstract

To evaluate the effect of a health education program on the prevention and control of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) in the municipality of Mae Sot, Tak Province, a survey of adult residents, mainly housewives, was conducted in late April 1990 to assess their knowledge of DHF and practice of preventive methods. A total of 417 respondents from 417 households selected by a systematic-cluster sampling method were interviewed. More than 90% of them knew that the disease is transmitted by Aedes mosquitos and indicated water jars and water retention in the houses as the common breeding places. However, the other two common breeding places, ant-traps and cement baths, were less frequently mentioned. This finding was consistent with the greater proportion of respondents who reported no larval control methods for these two kinds of containers than for the others. Covering water containers was the most common practice to prevent mosquito breeding in drinking-water containers whereas addition of abate (temephos sand granules) or changing stored water frequently was commonly used for non-drinking water storage. Larval control for ant-traps was mainly accomplished by the addition of chemicals, including abate, salt, oil or detergent. Health education efforts in this area could induce the majority of respondents to accept themselves as responsible for the Aedes control program. Health education by health personnel played an important role in disseminating DHF information and prevention methods. Radio and television were the main effective mass media for public health education on DHF in this area.