Management Strategies in the Control of Dengue Fever in Ilocos Sur

Abstract

The study aimed to determine the management strategies observed or practiced by the respondents in the control of dengue fever in Iocos Sur. It further determined the occurrence of dengue fever in locos Sur during CY 2000-2002. The respondents' background knowledge on dengue fever, their management strategies in the control of the said communicable disease in terms of mosquito elimination and prevention from mosquito bites were measured. The relationship between the occurrence of the disease and the respondents' managenent strategies in terms of background knowledge about dengue, mosquito elimination and prevention of mosquito bikes was also found out.The study made use of the descriptive research design. A 5-point scule questionnaire checklist was used in gathering data on awareness, observations and practices of respondents in the control of dengue fever. The data were sadistically treated with frequency count, mean and Point Biserial Correlation. The following findings and conclusions were drawn from the data gathered. The occurrence of dengue fever in Ilocos Sur was highest in 2000 and the number of cases declined in 2001 and 2002; the respondents had a high level of background knowledge on the nature of dengue vector, etiology and disease causation; the control of mosquito breeding and proliferation at average level; some practices were highly observed because they were part of household activities; and costly procedures like use of electric mosquito killers and "off lotion" were practiced/observed at low level. An inverse relationship was found between the respondents' level of background knowledge of the occurrence of dengue fever. However, management strategies in mosquito breeding elimination significantly affected the occurrence ofdenguefever. Based on the conclusions, the following recommendations were forwarded: a regular radio program on health and nutrition in all radio stations in the locality should be carried out as an extension service of the university; massive cleaning activities should be concluded especially in possible breeding places for mosquitoes in and around houses, school rooms and grounds; fogging practice with sulvac powder to be more effective should be done simultaneously in neighbouring barangays at close intervals; intensive campaign on the management strategies against mosquito bites llke the use of mosquito nets, pajamas or log dresses, electric fans and spraying of insect repellants should be carried out. Further research on all insect-bore diseases to the locality should be conducted in relation to environmental control.