Objective Identifying knowledge, attitudes and practice regarding dengue control for guiding prevention and control measures. Methods A community survey was carried out using house inspection visits during May 2007 in two neighbourhoods in Bucaramanga having a high incidence of dengue. Mosquito breeding places were identified and education concerning dengue prevention and control measures was provided. EPI-INFO was used for analysing the information so collected. Results 643 of the 780 households (82.4%) responded to the survey. Most people responding (518) were female (80.6%), average age being 39.6 (16.8 standard deviation (SD)), average schooling lasted 6.2 years (3.5 SD) and average household size was 5 people per house. Regarding dengue, 433 people (67.3%) described it as being a very serious disease; 545 (84.8%) stated that it was transmitted by a mosquito vector and 242 (37.6%) said that it was produced by a virus 59 (9.2%). The symptoms recognised were: fever by 570 people (88.6%), vomiting by 352 (54.7%), diarrhoea by 275 (43.0%), headache by 243 (37.8%), bone pain by 196 (30.5%) and muscle pain by 109 (17.0%). For prevention, 288 (44.7%) avoided stagnant water, 174 (27.2%) washed out their water tanks, 91 (14.2%) fumigated and 101 (15.8%) cleaned their houses. When anybody had dengue, 410 of them (63.8%) would go to a doctor, 129 (20.1%) would go to a hospital and 78 (12.0%) would treat themselves. Larval rate was 26.6% and there had been cases of dengue in 8.4% of the households during the last month. Discussion Knowledge about dengue was sketchy. Attitudes were favourable regarding dengue control but preventative practice was inadequate. The community must be educated and empowered to ensure their active participation in prevention and control programmes.

Objetivo Identificar conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas sobre dengue para orientar medidas de prevención y control. Metodología Encuesta realizada, en dos barrios de alta incidencia de dengue en Bucaramanga, mayo de 2007, mediante visita domiciliaria. Se identificaron criaderos y se brindó educación sobre prevención y control. La información fue analizada en EPI-INFO. Resultados En 643 de las 780 viviendas (82,4 %) se logró respuesta. La mayoría de los entrevistadas eran mujeres, 518 (80,6 %), con edad promedio 39,6 años, desviación estándar (DE) 16,8, escolaridad 6,2 años (DE 3.5) y 5 habitantes por vivienda. En cuanto al dengue, 433 (67,3%) lo describieron como una enfermedad: muy grave 545 (84,8 %), transmitida por zancudo 242 (37,6 %) y producida por virus 59 (9,2 %). Síntomas reconocidos: fiebre 570 (88,6 %), vómito 352 (54,7 %), diarrea 275 (43,0 %), cefalea 243 (37,8 %), dolor óseo 196 (30,5 %) y muscular 109 (17,0 %). Para prevenirlo: evitan agua estancada 288 (44,7 %), lavan la pila 174 (27,2 %), limpian la casa 101 (15,8 %) y fumigan 91 (14,2 %). Cuando alguien tiene dengue: lo llevan al médico 410 (63,8 %), al hospital 129 (20,1 %) o automedica 78 (12,0 %). El índice larvario fue de 26,1 % y en 8,4 % de las viviendas hubo casos de dengue el mes anterior a la encuesta. Discusión Los conocimientos sobre dengue son escasos, las actitudes favorables al control, pero las prácticas son insuficientes. Se requiere educar y empoderar la comunidad para que participe activamente en los programas de prevención y control.

Objetivo Identificar conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas sobre dengue para orientar medidas de prevención y control. Metodología Encuesta realizada, en dos barrios de alta incidencia de dengue en Bucaramanga, mayo de 2007, mediante visita domiciliaria. Se identificaron criaderos y se brindó educación sobre prevención y control. La información fue analizada en EPI-INFO. Resultados En 643 de las 780 viviendas (82,4 %) se logró respuesta. La mayoría de los entrevistadas eran mujeres, 518 (80,6 %), con edad promedio 39,6 años, desviación estándar (DE) 16,8, escolaridad 6,2 años (DE 3.5) y 5 habitantes por vivienda. En cuanto al dengue, 433 (67,3%) lo describieron como una enfermedad: muy grave 545 (84,8 %), transmitida por zancudo 242 (37,6 %) y producida por virus 59 (9,2 %). Síntomas reconocidos: fiebre 570 (88,6 %), vómito 352 (54,7 %), diarrea 275 (43,0 %), cefalea 243 (37,8 %), dolor óseo 196 (30,5 %) y muscular 109 (17,0 %). Para prevenirlo: evitan agua estancada 288 (44,7 %), lavan la pila 174 (27,2 %), limpian la casa 101 (15,8 %) y fumigan 91 (14,2 %). Cuando alguien tiene dengue: lo llevan al médico 410 (63,8 %), al hospital 129 (20,1 %) o automedica 78 (12,0 %). El índice larvario fue de 26,1 % y en 8,4 % de las viviendas hubo casos de dengue el mes anterior a la encuesta. Discusión Los conocimientos sobre dengue son escasos, las actitudes favorables al control, pero las prácticas son insuficientes. Se requiere educar y empoderar la comunidad para que participe activamente en los programas de prevención y control.

Objective Identifying knowledge, attitudes and practice regarding dengue control for guiding prevention and control measures. Methods A community survey was carried out using house inspection visits during May 2007 in two neighbourhoods in Bucaramanga having a high incidence of dengue. Mosquito breeding places were identified and education concerning dengue prevention and control measures was provided. EPI-INFO was used for analysing the information so collected. Results 643 of the 780 households (82.4%) responded to the survey. Most people responding (518) were female (80.6%), average age being 39.6 (16.8 standard deviation (SD)), average schooling lasted 6.2 years (3.5 SD) and average household size was 5 people per house. Regarding dengue, 433 people (67.3%) described it as being a very serious disease; 545 (84.8%) stated that it was transmitted by a mosquito vector and 242 (37.6%) said that it was produced by a virus 59 (9.2%). The symptoms recognised were: fever by 570 people (88.6%), vomiting by 352 (54.7%), diarrhoea by 275 (43.0%), headache by 243 (37.8%), bone pain by 196 (30.5%) and muscle pain by 109 (17.0%). For prevention, 288 (44.7%) avoided stagnant water, 174 (27.2%) washed out their water tanks, 91 (14.2%) fumigated and 101 (15.8%) cleaned their houses. When anybody had dengue, 410 of them (63.8%) would go to a doctor, 129 (20.1%) would go to a hospital and 78 (12.0%) would treat themselves. Larval rate was 26.6% and there had been cases of dengue in 8.4% of the households during the last month. Discussion Knowledge about dengue was sketchy. Attitudes were favourable regarding dengue control but preventative practice was inadequate. The community must be educated and empowered to ensure their active participation in prevention and control programmes.