Submission ID 118494
| Issue/Objective | Bangladesh is experiencing a drastic increase in dengue infections since 2019, with a record number of cases exceeding 300,000 in 2023. This viral infection, transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, requires an in-depth and contextualized understanding of the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) around dengue and dengue interventions for effective and tailored prevention strategies. This study aimed to measure the association between the seropositivity of children aged 2 to 12 years with KAP related to dengue among their parents in Dhaka, Bangladesh. |
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| Methodology/Approach | In December 2023, a cross-sectional study of parents in four different neighborhoods of Dhaka was conducted. The questionnaire collected information on previous dengue, sociodemographic, community activity participation, and dengue KAP. The copula method was used to estimate the dependencies among the KAP questions. A modified Poisson regression model was conducted to estimate the relative risk, and a robust error variance estimation was used to address the correlation in the data. The findings were analyzed through a framework of behavioral change. |
| Results | The estimated child seroprevalence was 17% (n=412). Thirty percent of the households presented a high KAP score (n=90). The mean score for knowledge was 65.9%, for attitudes 77.4%, and for practice 65.8%. The KAP dependencies showed that actions taken when someone suspects dengue (τ= 0.50) and recent control practices (τ= 0.26) are positively dependent on knowledge of preventive measures (p< 0.001). While the perception that dengue can be prevented presented a weak negative symmetric correlation to knowledge (τ=-0.37, p > 0.001). We found that a higher attitude score was associated with decreased seropositivity (RR 0.98, CI 0.94-0.99, p <0.04). The consistency between the KAP findings and the framework for behavioral change reinforces the idea that social norms influence attitudes, including the perceived value of intervention within the community. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | These findings offer a nuanced understanding of the factors associated with seroprevalence in Dhaka. Consistent with scientific literature, they highlight the disconnect between knowledge, practice, and actual health behaviors. Behavioral theory provides a useful lens to understand these complex quantitative associations. To deepen this understanding, qualitative research would be valuable in exploring how cultural beliefs, perceptions, and practices shape knowledge, attitudes, and practices. |
| Presenters and affiliations | Avijit Saha BRAC University Laura Pierce École de Santé Publique, Université de Montréal Marie-Catherine Gagnon Dufresne École de Santé Publique, Université de Montréal Yang Zhang École de Santé Publique, Université de Montréal Mrittika Barua BRAC University Mizanur Rahman BRAC University Protyasha Ghosh BRAC University Malay Kanti Mridha BRAC University Valéry Ridde Université Paris Cité, Paris, France Université Paris Cité, IRD, Inserm, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Ceped, Bouchra Nasri École de Santé Publique, Université de Montréal Kate Zinszer École de Santé Publique, Université de Montréal Claudia Robayo École de Santé Publique, Université de Montréal |
