Velásquez-Serra G.C.^1,, Preciado-Velásquez O.², Realpe A.³, Aizaga-Ballesteros M.Y.³, Llangari Cujilema J.L.⁴, Preciado Cañas O.E.¹

In order to achieve behavioral changes related to the prevention and control of dengue (COMBI strategy), there are not bibliographic references known in ethnic and afro-descendant communities of Ecuador. The main objective of this research was to train communities about this prevention strategy, promote community participation for the elimination of the vector transmitter and disease, as well as prioritize and refer cases. It was a descriptive and cross-sectional investigation. The sample: formed by the family heads of the “Chachi” (Naranjal de Canande) and afro-descendants (Malympia) communities of the Quinindé Canton. The information was collected with an instrument that involved aspects such as: personal data, level of education, ethnic group, occupation and general knowledge of dengue. The data was recorded in a table with Microsoft Excel and analyzed with Statgraphics Plus 5.1. The survey in Canandé and Malimpia was applied to 97.7% and 97.9% of the dwellings, respectively. The registered female gender predominated (57.95% and 68.04%) respectively. For the Chachi and Afro population groups, ages between 5-9 years were more relevant (24.32 and 41.93%) individually. The Chachi community contributed more response data to the contained items, such as: Do you know the name of the dengue mosquito? Is there anyone in your home who has suffered from Dengue? (n = 94, 96.90%). In Malimpia, 67% of the housewives participated learning the washing and brushing of internal walls of the buckets. Both communities detected low tanks as the most frequent breeding place.

ethnicity, strategy, COMBI, prevention, dengue