%0 Journal Article
%T Factors Associated with Larval Control Practices in a Dengue Outbreak Prone Area
%A Mariam Mohamad
%A Mohamad Ikhsan Selamat
%A Zaliha Ismail
%J Journal of Environmental and Public Health
%D 2014
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2014/459173
%X In order to reduce the risk of dengue outbreak recurrence in a dengue outbreak prone area, the members of the community need to sustain certain behavior to prevent mosquito from breeding. Our study aims to identify the factors associated with larval control practices in this particular community. A cross-sectional study involves 322 respondents living in a dengue outbreak prone area who were interviewed using a pretested questionnaire. The level of knowledge about Aedes mosquitoes, dengue transmission, its symptoms, and personal preventive measures ranges from fair to good. The level of attitude towards preventive measures was high. However, reported level of personal larval control practices was low (33.2%). Our multiple logistic regression analysis showed that only those with a good level of attitude towards personal preventive measure and frequent attendance to health campaigns were significantly associated with the good larval control practices. We conclude that, in a dengue outbreak prone area, having a good attitude towards preventive measures and frequent participation in health campaigns are important factors to sustain practices on larval control. 1. Introduction Almost 50% of the world¡¯s population is living in dengue infection risk areas, a mosquitoes-borne fever with 50¨C100 million cases reported annually and about 2.5% affected died [1]. Aedes mosquitoes particularly Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus are two known vectors that play the crucial role of transmitting dengue virus from an infected host (mainly human) to another human being. To date, the main measures for vector control include destroying the mosquitoes¡¯ larval breeding sites either by chemical, biological, or environmental management and space spraying using insecticides to kill the adult mosquitoes [2]. Both of these measures need collaboration from the community as well as the public health authorities. Thus, evidences to support local community participation to destroy the mosquitoes are essential. Malaysia is a highly endemic country for dengue infection, which experienced 3- to 5-year cycles of outbreaks [3]. In 2013, the incidences of dengue and dengue haemorrhagic fever were 143.3 and 2.6 per 100,000 populations, respectively, with mortality rate of 0.31 per 100,000 [4]. The control program is highly subsidized by the government and the bulk of the prevention and control measures are done by the public health authority [5]. Localities are monitored by number of dengue cases reported and are considered as having outbreak when there is more than one case of dengue occurring
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jeph/2014/459173/