Perception About Dengue Fever and its Prevention Among the Rural People in Sylhet

Abstract Dengue is an emerging public health problem. This descriptive cross sectional study was conducted to assess the knowledge and awareness about dengue fever among the two selected villages of Golapgonj upozila, Sylhet from May 2017 to August 2017. By purposive sampling technique, 132 samples were selected. People above 18 years old irrespective of sex were included in this study. Highest proportion (46.97%) of the respondents was in between 18-30 years of age, maximum (59.1%) were female and 96.2% were Muslim. Half of respondents (50.8%) were homemaker and 38.64% were educated up to primary level. Monthly family income of highest (46.2%) proportion of respondents were in between 20001-30000 TK. Majority (93.9%) of the respondents heard about dengue fever, among them 84.6% respondents had idea about the mode of transmission, 70.97% knew that dengue is transmitted by mosquito and 58.87% people were able to mention the name of Aedes mosquito. Majority (86.3%) of participant mentioned fever, as common symptoms of dengue. Regarding seasonal variation of dengue fever, 59.7% had idea that dengue has seasonal variation and only 36.29% mentioned that dengue is common in rainy season. Aedes mosquito breads in small collection of clear water, said by 61.29% respondents and only 37.09% mentioned that Aedes mosquito bites during evening. About dengue prevention, 79.84% mentioned that dengue is a preventable disease and most of them said protection against mosquito bite (57.26%) and control of mosquito breading (13.71%) can prevent dengue. Maximum (71.77%) of participants said use of mosquito net as effective measure against mosquito biting and 33.06% respondents mentioned environmental cleanliness can control mosquito breeding. Majority (65.32%) of participants acquired their knowledge from television. No significant association of knowledge about dengue fever and its prevention was found with education level (p>0.05). But significant association was found in knowledge about vector and educational status(p<0.05). Key Words: Dengue Fever, Perception, Rural People.