Knowledge, Attitudes and Preventive Practices of Dengue Fever among Secondary School Students in Jazan, Saudi Arabia

A A Binsaeed,A A Sahli,A Dahlan,O M Dafalla,O H Kasule,W S Mohammed,E M Noureldin,A A Alsheikh

doi:10.12944/cwe.10.3.04

Abstract

Dengue fever (DF) is the most rapidly spreading mosquito-borne viral disease worldwide. Several confirmed dengue cases occurred in Jazan region in the last decade. Current study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes and preventive practices of dengue fever among students of secondary schools in Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among students of six secondary schools in Jazan. Multistage stratified random sample method was used and seven hundred forty two (742) were taken as respondents in study. We collected information on the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents about their knowledge, attitude and practice towards DF using a prestructured and self administered questionnaire. findings illustrate a poor DF knowledge among the secondary school students in Jazan. As to attitudes towards DF prevention and control, the majority of the respondents were having good attitudes and believed that DF could be controlled and prevented (93.2%), DF control is the responsibility of government and community (83.1%) and they themselves have an important role to play in DF prevention (78.5%).The most common practice to prevent mosquito breeding were found to be the disposing of water from breeding containers (85.5%) and covering of water containers (68.6%). A significant association between the practice of DF preventive and control measures and the gender of the respondents was found (P<0.005).The top two common sources of DF knowledge were identified as primary health care centers and television (48.1% and 44.5%, respectively) Low prevalence of sufficient knowledge was evident among secondary school students in Jazan. Government authorities should strengthen its programs on massive educational campaigns to increase awareness and knowledge regarding dengue and preventive measures to reduce mosquito and prevent dengue. Knowledge of dengue epidemiology may be incorporated into the school curriculum.

Highlights

Dengue is a viral disease transmitted to humans by the bite of infected females of the main vector Aedes aegypti and to lesser extent Aedes albopictus mosquitoes[1] The World Health Organization has classified dengue into three categories according to disease severity; DengueFever (DF), Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF), and Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS)[2] Severe dengue (DHF and DSS) causes lethal complications that included severe hemorrhage, plasma leakage, organ impairment, fluid accumulation, or respiratory distress[3, 4] The four genetically related viruses that cause dengue are single-stranded RNA, belonging to the Flaviviridae family and genus Flavivirus[5] TheseBinsaeed et al, Curr
Dengue fever (DF) is endemic in[128] countries[12] According to Bhatt et al[13, 390] million dengue virus (DENV) infections are estimated to occur per year; over three times more than previous estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO) had suggested[14] some progresses had been achieved towards the development and clinical evaluation of vaccines against DENV infection, no such vaccine is on the market yet[15] and there is no specific treatment against DF
Low prevalence of sufficient knowledge was evident among secondary school students in Jazan

Summary

Introduction

Dengue is a viral disease transmitted to humans by the bite of infected females of the main vector Aedes aegypti and to lesser extent Aedes albopictus mosquitoes[1] The World Health Organization has classified dengue into three categories according to disease severity; DengueFever (DF), Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF), and Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS)[2] Severe dengue (DHF and DSS) causes lethal complications that included severe hemorrhage, plasma leakage, organ impairment, fluid accumulation, or respiratory distress[3, 4] The four genetically related viruses that cause dengue are single-stranded RNA, belonging to the Flaviviridae family and genus Flavivirus[5] TheseBinsaeed et al, Curr. Dengue is a viral disease transmitted to humans by the bite of infected females of the main vector Aedes aegypti and to lesser extent Aedes albopictus mosquitoes[1] The World Health Organization has classified dengue into three categories according to disease severity; Dengue. The incidence of DF has increased more than 30 fold over the last five decades, the dengue virus (DENV) infection has globally become a major public health threat. DF is endemic in[128] countries[12] According to Bhatt et al[13, 390] million DENV infections are estimated to occur per year; over three times more than previous estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO) had suggested[14] some progresses had been achieved towards the development and clinical evaluation of vaccines against DENV infection, no such vaccine is on the market yet[15] and there is no specific treatment against DF. Virus surveillance revealed 3 dengue serotypes. 17 Endemicity of DF in Jeddah has been confirmed by Ministry of Health in the last decades and 1551 positive cases were notified in 2006 -2007 with 1.1% and 0.5 % of DHF and DSS cases, respectively[18]

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