Public Awareness Towards Dengue Infection in Rural Area of Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Dengue fever poses a significant public health threat in Bangladesh. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of adults regarding public awareness towards dengue infection in a rural area of Bangladesh. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 450 adult respondents (male and female) at Dhamrai Upazilla Health Complex, Bangladesh, from April 10, 2022 to October 17, 2022. Participants were assessed on their knowledge of dengue infection. Demographic characteristics including age, gender, religion, education, income, family size, housing, room sharing, and sanitation practices were also collected. Results: Out of 450 respondents, 40.44% were aged 18-25 years, and 52% were male. The majority (90%) were Muslim. Regarding education, 23.33% had studied up to secondary level, with 13.78% being illiterate. Nearly one-third (34.44%) had an income between BDT 10,000-15,000. Most respondents (58.89%) had a family size of 2-4 members, and 45.33% lived in full brick buildings. For sanitation, 86.66% used Paka (concrete) toilets, and 96.66% reported using personal protective equipment. A high proportion (92.22%) of respondents were aware of dengue, with 41.78% obtaining information from newspapers/magazines. While 77.78% correctly identified dengue as a communicable disease, 18.89% did not know about prevention methods. The majority (67.8%) knew about most dengue symptoms, with fever being the most commonly recognized symptom (69.33%). Flower vases (23.33%) and discarded bottles (21.11%) were identified as primary mosquito breeding sites. Interestingly, 77.33% of respondents expressed no desire to know more about dengue. Conclusion: The study revealed a generally high level of awareness about dengue among the rural population in Dhamrai Upazilla, particularly regarding its communicability and symptoms. However, there are still significant gaps in knowledge regarding prevention methods and a surprising lack of desire among a large proportion of the population for further information. These findings underscore the need for targeted health education programs that focus on comprehensive prevention strategies and aim to reignite interest in continuous learning about dengue, especially for those with limited education and income.