Abstract

Dengue, the most important mosquito-borne viral disease of humans is a recurring global health problem. In Bangladesh, dengue outbreaks are on the increase despite the efforts of government and it is not clear what the understanding of the general Dhaka population towards dengue fever is. Knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) studies are essential guides in public health interventions. Hence, using KAP, this study aims to assess patient-perspectives with regards to factors associated with dengue, as well as investigate the associated factors between the two corporations in Dhaka. A Hospital-based cross-sectional study of 242 fever patients from two city-corporations in Dhaka (Dhaka North City Corporations, DNCC (n = 91, 37.6%) and Dhaka South City Corporation, DSCC (n = 151, 62.4%) was conducted using pre-tested KAP items. Wilcoxon’s Rank Sum was used to determine the KAP by DNCC, DSCC and both corporations and multivariate Poisson regression analyses. The two corporations were analysed separately due to the differences in income distribution, concentration of slums, hospitals and clinics. The study found that more than half of the study population were knowledgeable about dengue (mean percentage scores was 52%), possess an appropriate and acceptable attitude towards the disease (69.2%), and about two thirds of the respondents (71.4%) engaged in practices towards its prevention. After adjusting for the potential cofounders, the factors associated with KAP about dengue fever varied between DNCC and DSCC; with duration of residency and use of mosquito nets were associated with knowledge in the north while income class and age were associated with knowledge and attitude in the south. In the pooled analysis (combining both corporations), knowledge of dengue was associated with good practice towards dengue fever among the respondents. The duration of residence in Dhaka (10+ years), not using mosquito nets and length of time spent in the hospital (7+ days) due to dengue, and decreased knowledge (Adjusted coefficient (β) = -0.01, 95%CI: -0.02, -0.01) were associated with attitude towards dengue in DNCC. On the other hand, middle-high income class, age (40+ years) and increased knowledge were associated with practice towards dengue in DSCC (β = 0.02, 95%CI: 0.01, 0.03). Efforts to increase knowledge about dengue fever through education by the administrations of both corporations would benefit from targeting these high-risk groups for a more sustainable outcome.

Highlights

  • Dengue is an important public health problem and the leading mosquito-borne viral disease of humans

  • The disease is caused by dengue viruses (DENV); four genetically related but antigenically distinct ribonucleic acid (RNA) viruses (DENV serotypes 1–4) [1]

  • This study examined KAP regarding dengue among the residents of Dhaka via the two city corporations, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC)

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Summary

Introduction

Dengue is an important public health problem and the leading mosquito-borne viral disease of humans. DENV belongs to the Flaviviridae family and the most important vectors for viral transmission between humans are blood-feeding females of the mosquito species, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. The ongoing rise in the number of dengue cases is due, in a large part, to the extensive spread of mosquito vectors, rapid and unregulated urbanization, increased international travel, and the absence of effective interventions. According to the World Health Organization; the Americas, Southeast Asia (mostly Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines) and the Western Pacific are the regions most affected by dengue. Seventy-five percent of the world’s dengue burden is in Asia and there have been significant increases in the number of areas becoming hyperendemic; harbouring multiple DENV serotypes [4, 5]

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