Integrated Vector Control (IVC) Strategies and Services of Barangay Health Stations (BHS) in District 5 of Manila City against Dengue Mosquitoes amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

In the absence of an effective vaccine, integrated vector control (IVC) is the key method for controlling dengue cases. The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown significantly weakened the surveillance, preventive insecticide application, and vector control effectiveness. Therefore, the Department of Health issued a memorandum urging barangays to keep implementing interventions to prevent dengue cases from growing in number. This study aimed to describe the status of the implementation of the IVC component of the National Dengue Prevention and Control Program by the Barangay Health Stations (BHSs) of District 5, Manila City, the Philippines, before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019 and during the pandemic in 2020. The pandemic affected numerous government programs, so the IVC status before and amid the pandemic is worth describing. The study used a cross-sectional descriptive design with a remote survey being conducted with 144 BHS from 08–23 Feb 2021 using a self-administered questionnaire. Results showed that the BHS conducted larviciding (84.02%), adulticiding either through indoor residual spraying [IRS (86.81%)] or space spraying (77.08%) in 2019. Distributions of insecticide-treated nets [ITN (27.78%)], insecticide-treated curtains [ITC (17.36%)], smoke repellents (54.17%), and skin repellents (50.00%) were also implemented. In 2020 amid the pandemic, 81.94% of BHS implemented larviciding, whereas 83.33% and 77.08% conducted IRS and space spraying, respectively. In addition, ITNs (24.31%), ITCs (17.36%), smoke repellents (52.08%), and skin repellents (44.44%) were also distributed in 2020. Despite the pandemic, most barangays in District 5 continued to implement IVC strategies, which contributed to vector density and possibly prevented an increase in mosquito density that could have led to dengue outbreaks.