Assessment of Awareness Regarding Dengue and Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever through Cognitive, Affective and Behaviour (CAB) Model in Eastern India

Abstract

Background: Dengue is a vector borne disease transmitted by the infective bite of Aedes aegypti mosquito and causative agent is dengue virus. Man develops sign and symptoms of disease after 5-6 days of an infective bite. It occurs in two forms dengue fever which is a severe flu-like illness and dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) which is a more severe form causing death. Objective: To assess awareness regarding Dengue and Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever among common people through cognitive, affect, behaviour (CAB) model. Methods: This is a community-based cross-sectional study carried out during the period November 2021 to April 2022. Sample size calculated was 384 and the OPD register was taken as a sampling frame. A semi-structured pretested questionnaire was used as a study instrument. Descriptive and inferential statistics are used for analysis. Results: A total of 390 patients were interviewed. Among those, 43% belonged to the age group of 18-29yr. The female participants were 50.3%. Regarding knowledge about dengue, 77% of participants had heard about it and 69% opined mosquitoes as a causative vector. Only 18% of participants knew the daytime biting nature of mosquitoes. Overall, the respondents had a good attitude as 65% of respondents considered that dengue could be a serious illness. Nearby 83% said that they had no risk of getting dengue. As preventive practice against mosquito bites, the majority (59%) used mat/coil. Conclusions: As there is no specific treatment for dengue, everybody should be aware of the early diagnosis, hospitalization for treatment and preventive practices against breeding mosquitoes.