A study to assess the impact of health education on larval indices in the rural areas of Ballari: a southern district of India

Abstract

Background: Awareness regarding dengue through health education is one of the important components of Integrated vector control which can bring about reduction in mosquito density and thereby reduction in morbidity and mortality. The objectives of this study to assess the impact of health education on larval indices in the study area.Methods: This was a community based interventional study was conducted between August to September 2017 at rural field practice area of Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences, Ballari. Three villages with a population of more than 2000 were selected randomly. A total of 100 households were surveyed for Aedes larvae in all the three villages. Baseline information and larval indices like house index (HI), container index (CI) and Breteau index (BI) were calculated as per the procedure of WHO. Health education regarding potential breeding sites of Aedes mosquito and importance and methods of eliminating them through demonstration at household level and street play at community level was done. Post intervention larval survey was done.Results: There was 31.7% reduction in container index (pre-CI: 14.2% to post-CI: 9.7%) and 40.1% reduction in Breteau index (pre-BI: 76.3 to post-BI: 45.7%) and this reduction in the larval indices was found to be statistically significant.Conclusions: Based on the high larval indices, the study areas were prone for dengue transmission. There was significant reduction in the larval indices after the educational intervention.