Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development

  • Year: 2019
  • Volume: 10
  • Issue: 10

A Comparative Study on Awareness and Preventive Practices Regarding Dengue Fever among Selective Semi-Urban and Rural Population in Chennai, India

  • Author:
  • Yogesh Mohan1, K. Anbarasu2, K. Aishwarya2, S. P. Aishwarya2, Timsi Jain3,
  • Total Page Count: 6
  • Page Number: 596 to 601

1Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Saveetha Medical College, Chennai

2Final year MBBS Student, Department of Community Medicine, Saveetha Medical College, Chennai

3Professor and Head, Department of Community Medicine, Saveetha Medical College, Chennai

*Corresponding Author: Dr Timsi Jain, Professor and Head, Department of Community Medicine, Saveetha Medical College, Chennai, Email: dr.timsi@gmail.com

Online published on 23 December, 2019.

Abstract

Dengue fever is a preventable infection, and success of dengue control depends largely on good knowledge, attitudes and practices of targeted communities towards the disease and its preventive measures.

Cross-sectional study was conducted with sample size of 95 in each area. The study was carried out during the inter-epidemic period (April-June 2018). Simple random sampling technique was used to select the samples. A validated pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect the data. Analysis was done using proportions and chisquare test.

The majority (94.8%) of the respondents in this study had known about Dengue fever. More than half (53.1%) of people were practicing preventive measures against Dengue. No significant difference in knowledge regarding the dengue, its vector, its breeding places and active biting time was found between the semi-urban and rural population, however there was a significant difference in knowledge about common symptoms in semi-urban and rural populations.

Preventive practices are not found to be satisfactory. Thus behavior change communication is the need of the hour. Strengthening of surveillance along with periodic health education to the community by the health personnel is required.

Keywords

Dengue Fever, Preventive Practices, Awareness, Behavior Change Communication