Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Dengue among the General Population in Honduras

Miki Uematsu^1, and Carlos Zúniga Mazier²

¹JOCV (Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers), JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) Honduras office, Tegucigalpa, M.D.C., Honduras

²Health Monitoring Division, Regional Office of Health Department of Lempira, Gracias, Lempira, Honduras

Cite this paper:
Miki Uematsu and Carlos Zúniga Mazier. Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Dengue among the General Population in Honduras. American Journal of Public Health Research. 2016; 4(5):181-187. doi: 10.12691/ajphr-4-5-4

Abstract

The incidence of dengue infections continues to rise worldwide, including the Americas where a dramatic increase in dengue infections has been reported during the last 5 decades. Honduras had the worst epidemic of dengue in 2010. Good knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) among the public are required to successfully prevent or minimize dengue outbreaks. However, very little is known about the public’s KAP on dengue and its prevention in Honduras. This study aimed to assess the level of KAP regarding dengue among the general population in Honduras. A household survey was conducted in eight communities in Gracias, Lempira in Honduras. Four hundred and twenty-three households were interviewed for this study. We found correlations between the educational level and knowledge score and between the knowledge and practice scores. Conversely, the lack of access to water affected dengue prevention practices. In multivariate analyses, dengue prevention practices significantly differed by educational level and access to water (P < 0.05). High education group had better practices than the low education group [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 1.62]. People who had access to water in their households had better practices than others who lived without access to water (aOR, 1.83). Our findings suggested that although the population had sufficient knowledge about dengue prevention, their actions against dengue could be limited by a lack of access to water. For eliminating mosquito breeding sites, not only providing education, but also improving water supply systems is essential.

Keywords:
dengue knowledge attitude practice Honduras

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