Publication: Knowledge and Preventive Practices of Dengue Fever among Adolescents in a Terai District of Nepal: A Cross- Sectional Study
Date
2024
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Perinatal Society of Nepal (PESON)
Abstract
Abstract:
Introduction
Dengue fever spreads by mosquito bites. Preventive measures are the most effective way to decrease the incidence of dengue. This study aims to find out the knowledge and preventive practices of Dengue fever among adolescents in Nepal.
Methods
This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 450 students studying in grades 9 and 10 of selected community and private schools in the Dhanusha district of Nepal. The total enumeration method was used with self-administered semi-structured questionnaires for data collections.
Results
Among 450 respondents, the mean age of the students was 16±1.72 years. Regarding awareness of dengue symptoms, (420)92.7% responded to restlessness, as the symptoms of dengue while only 84 (18.5%) attributed bleeding from the gums or nose to the disease. Regarding preventive practices, 424 (93.6%)) participants acknowledged the importance of covering the water tank, while 175 (38.6%) considered spraying insecticide as a useful preventive measure. Education alone is significantly associated with the levels of knowledge (p-value = 0.046) and preventive practice (p-value = 0.000). The correlation analysis between knowledge and practice scores revealed a weak positive correlation (r=0.20, p-value<0.001).
Conclusion:
The study revealed inadequate knowledge and insufficient preventive practices concerning the prevention of dengue fever among adolescents in Nepal.
Description
Shreejana Singh
Research Officer, Department of Research, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Deepak Raj Joshi
Lecturer, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Alisha Yadav
Medical Student, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal.
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1442-2960
Isabel Lawot
Assistant Professor, Department of Midwifery, Maharajgunj Nursing Campus, Tribhuvan University, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Mohan Raj Sharma
Head of Department, Department of Neurosurgery, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Keywords
Awareness, Adolescents, Dengue virus, Dengue fever, Nepal, Prevention