Virology & Mycology
Open Access
ISSN: 2161-0517
ISSN: 2161-0517
Research Article - (2024)Volume 13, Issue 1
Dengue fever is a very common viral disease in Pakistan. It is a major public health issue whose epidemiology and ecology is strongly related to human lifestyle and activities. Current study aimed at evaluation of knowledge, attitude and practices regarding dengue fever among people of Karachi, Pakistan. A questionnaire based cross sectional study was conducted between February-April 2022. Questionnaire was prepared and adapted from previous literature available and it was designed on google forms. This questionnaire was distributed randomly through various social media networks. Questionnaire had four sections which included socio-demographic data of all participants, questions about knowledge, attitude and practice of dengue fever. Data was evaluated statistically (descriptive statistics) using SPSS software version 25. A total of 140 respondents filled the google survey form. Out of 140 respondents or participants (42.9%) were male and (57.1%) were female. Majority of participants (80%) were between age group of 15 years-30 years. Participants have different educational status i.e. undergraduate participants were 57.1% and postgraduate were 32.9%. Majority of participants were single (72.1%) and students (70%). Ninety percent of people reported that they had heard about dengue fever. Dengue as a viral disease was reported by 72.1% but still 50.7% thought that antibiotics are used as treatment of dengue fever. Panadol reduces the intensity of dengue fever was reported by 49.3% respondents. Only 26.4% respondents participated in awareness programs related to dengue fever. Positive perception regarding visit to a physician after getting dengue fever was given by 74.3%. The knowledge about dengue fever was adequate in local community or people of Karachi, Pakistan, while the attitude and practices regarding life style modification requires immediate improvements. Good knowledge doesn't necessarily lead to good practice and positive perception. It is high time that awareness and educational campaigns on dengue fever should be designed by government to improve behavior and practices of prevention and control of dengue fever.
Dengue fever; Knowledge; Attitude; Practice; Educational campaigns; Prevention and control
Dengue fever is a mosquito borne viral disease and it is very serious health problem globally and also considered as major infectious disease [1,2]. Dengue fever caused a significant mortality in various countries of the world [3]. Aedes aegypti mosquito is a tropical mosquito involved in causing dengue fever [4]. Knowledge regarding dengue fever is poor in local population of Pakistan, isolated knowledge on symptoms and prevention is adequate; with preventive measures mainly focused towards protection from mosquito bites [5]. Level of education is main parameter to access the knowledge of participants regarding dengue fever [6]. There were some confusion about vaccination and water storage for domestic use [7]. Currently there is a need for a nationally representative survey to assess the knowledge and attitudes regarding dengue and any misconception in the general population [8]. Many previous studies showed the low level of knowledge, attitude and practices behavior among all socioeconomic classes of people and it needs to be addressed adequately [9]. Gap should be minimized among people regarding the knowledge and practices of dengue fever [10]. In this current study we made a questionnaire which was adapted from previous literature available and it was designed using Google forms. This current study aimed at the estimation and evaluation of knowledge, attitude and practices regarding dengue fever among local people of Karachi, Pakistan.
Study design
A questionnaire based cross sectional study was conducted between February-April 2022. Questionnaire was prepared and adapted from previous literature available and it was designed on Google forms. This form was filled by total 140 participants belonging from different socioeconomic and demographic characteristics.
Study sampling
This questionnaire was distributed online randomly (simple random sampling) through various social media networks among local population of Karachi, Pakistan.
Socioeconomic and demographic characteristics
Demographic data collected via questionnaire included age, gender, education, marital status, employment, living area.
Questionnaire had four sections which included socio-demographic data of all participants, questions about knowledge, attitude and practice of dengue fever.
Software used for statistical analysis
Data was evaluated statistically (descriptive statistics) using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 25.
A total of 140 respondents filled the google survey form. Out of 140 respondents or participants (42.9%) were male and (57.1%) were female. Majority of participants (80%) were between age group of 15 years-30 years. Participants have different educational status i.e., undergraduate participants were 57.1%and postgraduate were 32.9%. Majority of participants were single (72.1%) and among them 70% were students. Ninety percent of people reported that they had heard about dengue fever. Dengue as a viral disease was reported by 72.1% but still 50.7% thought that antibiotics are used as treatment of dengue fever. Panadol reduces the intensity of dengue fever was reported by 49.3% respondents. Only 26.4% respondents participated in awareness programs related to dengue fever. Positive perception regarding visit to a physician after getting dengue fever was given by 74.3%. Details of responses regarding knowledge of dengue fever given by participants are mentioned in Table 1 and details of responses regarding attitude and behavior among local people regarding dengue fever are illustrated in Table 2.
| Knowledge variables regarding dengue fever | Frequency | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| Have you heard of dengue fever? | ||
| Don't know | 2 | 1.4 |
| Maybe | 1 | 0.7 |
| No | 11 | 7.9 |
| Yes | 126 | 90 |
| Is dengue a viral infection? | ||
| Don't know | 9 | 6.4 |
| Maybe | 11 | 7.9 |
| No | 19 | 13.6 |
| Yes | 101 | 72.1 |
| Can dengue be transmitted by contaminated water? | ||
| Don't know | 6 | 4.3 |
| Maybe | 16 | 11.4 |
| No | 39 | 27.9 |
| Yes | 79 | 56.4 |
| Is vaccination available for dengue fever? | ||
| Don't know | 22 | 15.7 |
| Maybe | 16 | 11.4 |
| No | 44 | 31.4 |
| Yes | 58 | 41.4 |
| Is dengue fever transmittable? | ||
| Don't know | 17 | 12.1 |
| Maybe | 21 | 15 |
| No | 57 | 40.7 |
| Yes | 45 | 32.1 |
| Dengue fever is caused by bite of mosquito? | ||
| Don't know | 3 | 2.1 |
| Maybe | 4 | 2.9 |
| No | 3 | 2.1 |
| Yes | 130 | 92.9 |
| Antibiotics are given in dengue fever? | ||
| Don't know | 17 | 12.1 |
| Maybe | 13 | 9.3 |
| No | 39 | 27.9 |
| Yes | 71 | 50.7 |
Table 1: Questions regarding knowledge of dengue fever.
| Attitude and practice regarding dengue fever | Frequency | Percentages (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Do you think before that you get dengue fever? | ||
| Maybe | 10 | 7.1 |
| No | 107 | 76.4 |
| Yes | 21 | 15 |
| Who would you first talk about dengue fever? | ||
| Don’t know | 23 | 16.4 |
| Friends | 20 | 14.3 |
| Parents | 62 | 44.3 |
| Physician/doctor | 32 | 22.9 |
| What would you first do when you found out that you get dengue? | ||
| Do nothing | 11 | 7.9 |
| Home remedies | 23 | 16.4 |
| Visit physician | 104 | 74.3 |
| Do you believe that dengue fever is curable? | ||
| Agree | 85 | 60.7 |
| Disagree | 1 | 0.7 |
| Don’t know | 8 | 5.7 |
| Strongly agree | 44 | 31.4 |
| Do you think Panadol reduces chances to get dengue fever? | ||
| Agree | 69 | 49.3 |
| Disagree | 49 | 35 |
| Strongly agree | 14 | 10 |
| Strongly disagree | 6 | 4.3 |
| Have you ever get dengue fever? | ||
| Don’t know | 3 | 2.1 |
| Maybe | 6 | 4.3 |
| No | 114 | 82.9 |
| Yes | 12 | 8.6 |
| Do you perform dengue test, if you suspected dengue? | ||
| Don’t know | 7 | 5 |
| Maybe | 8 | 5.7 |
| No | 35 | 25 |
| Yes | 87 | 62.1 |
| Do you use mosquito repellent? | ||
| Maybe | 12 | 8.6 |
| No | 34 | 24.3 |
| Yes | 89 | 63.6 |
| Covering water containers can prevent breeding of mosquitoes? | ||
| False | 9 | 6.4 |
| True | 128 | 91.4 |
| Do you use insecticide spray to kill mosquitoes? | ||
| Maybe | 6 | 4.3 |
| No | 22 | 15.7 |
| Yes | 109 | 77.9 |
| Do you use bed nets to reduce mosquito bites? | ||
| Maybe | 7 | 5 |
| No | 47 | 33.6 |
| Yes | 82 | 58.6 |
| Wearing long sleeves and long pants reduces chances to get dengue fever? | ||
| False | 13 | 9.3 |
| True | 123 | 87.9 |
| Use of scent or wearing dark colors attract mosquitoes? | ||
| False | 34 | 24.3 |
| True | 102 | 72.9 |
| Have you ever participated in health education related to dengue fever? | ||
| Maybe | 8 | 5.7 |
| No | 92 | 65.7 |
| Yes | 37 | 26.4 |
Table 2: Questions regarding attitude and practices of dengue fever.
Current study found out the gap between knowledge and practice is a challenge for dengue control; this was also reported by one of the previous studies [11]. Previous KAP studies concerning dengue virus control showed the most common problem is the lack of knowledge about clinical features or control measures. Current study also reveals that there is lack of knowledge as many people said that dengue is spread from contaminated water and antibiotics are used to treat dengue which shows clear lack of knowledge [12]. Dengue is a viral disease and use of antibiotics might cause resistance among dengue patients [13]. Level of education also a key determinant regarding the attitude and practice of dengue fever but sometimes good knowledge doesn't necessarily lead to good practice and positive perception of dengue virus among local people [14]. Efforts are needed to bring a positive attitude change among communities in order to fight dengue outbreaks [15]. Our study also indicated that if people are educated properly regarding knowledge through appropriate channels, they may eventually have good practices in preventing dengue fever [16].
Finally, it was evaluated in this study that the knowledge about dengue fever was adequate in local community or people of Karachi, Pakistan, while the attitude and practices regarding life style modification requires immediate improvements. Good knowledge doesn't necessarily lead to good practice and positive perception of dengue virus among local people. It is high time that awareness and educational campaigns and seminars on dengue fever should be conducted by government for the improvement of behavior and practices of prevention and control of dengue fever.
• There is no competing interest among all authors.
• No funding was taken.
• This study was done by undergraduate students for national poster presentation competition held at Karachi, Pakistan and
all authors contributed equally.
It was taken from Ethical Review Committee (ERC) of Sohail university, Karachi, Pakistan.
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Citation: Ali M, Khan Q, Nawaz S, Jamal M, Naz S, Bilal M, et al. (2024) Online Questionnaire Based Evaluation of Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) Regarding Dengue Fever among Local People of Karachi, Pakistan. Virol Myco.13:282.
Received: 13-Jun-2023, Manuscript No. VMID-23-25066; Editor assigned: 15-Jun-2023, Pre QC No. VMID-23-25066 (PQ); Reviewed: 29-Jun-2023, QC No. VMID-23-25066; Revised: 27-Dec-2023, Manuscript No. VMID-23-25066 (R); Published: 03-Jan-2024 , DOI: 10.35248/2161-0517.24.13.282
Copyright: © 2024 Ali M, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.