The Dearth of Dengue Awareness in Rural Population – Time  to Act!!!

Authors

Adults, Awareness, Dengue, Literacy, Morbidity, Mortality, Rural.

Background: Dengue, accounts to a notable economic and disease burden universally, is surging rapidly

into the countryside. This research was undertaken to study awareness of dengue and factors affecting it

among adults in a rural area.

Methods: Cross sectional study was conducted and data was collected by house to house survey after taking

consent, using predesigned and pre-tested proforma.

Results: Majority of 53.92% belonged to 30-39 years. 52.94% were males, 54.41% were literates and 33.33%

constituted to lower class. The common information source was hospital/health care personnel. 58.33%

considered dengue as fatal, 55.88% opined that dengue could not be prevented. The mode of transmission

was quoted as mosquito bite by 65.20%, 57.35% considered day and night as the biting habits of mosquito.

Most common symptom was quoted as fever, joint, bone or muscle pains and headache. 89.71% considered

insect repellents/creams as most common preventive measures. Comprehensively, 38% had sufficient

awareness about dengue. Significant associations were age (p=0.000016) and literacy (p<0.00001).

Conclusion: Despite various efforts in pursue of dengue, awareness in rural region is underneath in diverse

aspects. The disease prevention and treatment can be alleviated through variety of endeavours and thus abate

morbidity and mortality.