Survey of knowledge and practices of dengue fever prevention related to sociodemographic status: community-based study in Bandung, Indonesia

Abstract

Dengue fever has become an endemic in the Bandung city and this disease poses a serious public health threat. This study aimed to examine sociodemographic factors, experience of dengue hemorrhagic fever and their relationship with knowledge and practice of prevention dengue fever among the Bandung City community. This research was considered as a cross-sectional and community-based study. Systematic random sampling was performed, where one participant in every third house that researchers passed by was chosen. Participants involved in this study had met the inclusion criteria, namely age (18 years), local residents, and able to understand the questions. Data was collected using a questionnaire. Data analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics, chi-square, and multivariate logistic regression. Multivariate test results showed high knowledge scores in participants aged over 40 years (OR=30.908, 95% CI 16.490-57.930, P=0.000), participants who had an educational degree (OR=4.028, 95% CI 2.226-7.288, P =0.000), worked as private employees and self-employed (OR=0.235, 95% CI 0.098-0.560, P=0.001 and OR= 0.262, 95% CI 0.107-0.638, P=0.003), had an income of more than IDR 4,000,000 (OR=2.275, 95% CI 1.318-3.928, P=0.003), and had experience of dengue hemorrhagic fever (OR=3.140, 95% CI 1.484-6.640, P=0.003). Meanwhile, dengue fever prevention practice scores were higher in participants aged 25-39 years (OR=18.163, 95% CI 16, 8.056-40.947, P=0.000), who had an educational degree (OR=6.217, 95% CI 3.793-10.191, P =0.000), worked as a housewife (OR=0.286, 95% CI 0.129-0.634, P=0.002), had experience of dengue hemorrhagic fever (OR=0.271, 95% CI 0.144-0.510, P=0.023), and had a high knowledge score (OR=4.037, 95% CI 2.201-7.406, P=0.000). Dengue fever prevention practices are closely related to knowledge scores; therefore, dengue fever prevention puts up the focus to increasing knowledge and effective education programs