Risk factors related to dengue infections in primary school students: Exploring students’ basic knowledge of dengue and examining the larval indices in southern Thailand

Abstract

Summary: Dengue is a major problem in southern Thailand. Objectives: (1) To determine students’ basic knowledge of dengue and (2) to examine the larval indices in primary schools and in the students’ households. Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional quantitative and qualitative approach involving meetings with students, discussions with groups of teachers, a questionnaire investigating students’ basic knowledge of dengue, and a survey of the larval indices in primary schools and in the students’ households. The study consisted of three stages: (1) community preparation, (2) data collection and analysis, and (3) feedback. Results: A total of 306 students (from primary education levels 4–6) from five primary schools in the community were included in the study. Of a total of 15 items on the basic dengue questionnaire, only five were answered correctly by more than 80% of the students. Most of the knowledge items showed statistically significantly different distributions of correct, incorrect, and unknown answers (P ≤ 0.05, P ≤ 0.01, and P ≤ 0.001). The larval indices surveyed in the five schools and in 302 student households showed a high risk of dengue, with high indices in the five schools (Breteau Index: BI = 200; House Index: HI = 60; and Container Index: CI = 7.94) and in the students’ households (BI = 754; HI = 77; and CI = 35). Conclusion: Risk factors for dengue were related to the students’ basic knowledge of dengue and to the larval indices in both the schools and the students’ households. Additionally, a coordinated effort will be required to eliminate Aedes aegypti mosquito breeding sites in the community. Keywords: Risk factors, Dengue, Primary school, Basic knowledge of dengue, Southern Thailand