BARRIERS TO PREVENTION IN DENGUE FEVER IN PAKISTAN, KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, SWAT DISTRICT

Abstract

The main aim of this study was to find out the barriers in dengue prevention in the Swat District of Khyber Pkhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. A sample size of 354 respondents were proportionally allocated to each Mahallah or street (Tahir Abad, Angaro Dheri, Usman Abad and Banr) and then randomly selected. The association of the independent variable (barriers to prevention) and dependent variables (practices for control) were tested by using a Chi Square test. The perception about barriers in dengue prevention shows that a highly significant association was found between practices for control and access to medical facilities (p=0.034), government agencies to eradicate dengue breeding sites (p=0.005), dengue insecticides available in market (p= 0.028), use of bed nets (p=0.000), government/NGO instruction (p=0.008) and inconvenient sleep in bed nets (p=0.000). The barriers which enhanced the susceptibility of dengue epidemic were high population density, sufficient breeding sites in residential areas, and lack of coordination of government agencies with citizens to give instruction and advices about dengue prevention and treatment. Rather than the government, most of the infected persons were advised and treated by private health clinics. The study recommends controlling dengue fever and its vectors in the most vulnerable areas by providing emergency facilities, medicines, preventive chemicals and mosquito nets free of cost or with price controls.