Impact of Sociodemographic Factors on Knowledge Perception and Preventive Measure Awareness regarding Dengue Fever

Abstract

Background: Although Dengue fever is affecting various tropical and sub-tropical regions but it is common disease in Pakistan at time of floods. It can be easily managed with appropriate knowledge of disease and preventive measures only.Objective: To estimate knowledge perception and prevention awareness of individuals with respect to sociodemographic characteristics towards Dengue fever. Study type, settings & duration: This cross-sectionalstudy was conducted at Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, IslamabadfromFebruary to April 2023. Methodology: Close-Ended structured questionnaire with non-probability convenience sampling was used, where 384 participants belonged to age groups between 15–60 years. Total 25 questions were employed to calculate disease knowledge whereas 11 Questions to investigate prevention awareness. Chi-Square Test was used to evaluate categorical values and their association was estimated with p-value <0.05. Results: It was observed that 44% of the participants had good disease knowledge and prevention awareness (45.05%) among young participants belonging to 15-30 years. Moderate disease knowledge (31.51%) and prevention awareness (33.59%) was observed among participants belonging to 31-40 years of age, while poor disease knowledge (23.43%) and prevention awareness (23.43%) was demonstrated among participants belonging to 41-60 years of age (p-value =0.001). Conclusion: Overall Dengue disease knowledge and prevention awareness among young participants (15-30Years) was better as compared to middle age and elderly participants.

Keywords

• age
• awareness
• dengue
• knowledge