Community Knowledge of Dengue Fever in Yuhana Abad, Slum Area of Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to assess the current community’s perception status of dengue fever in the (Yuhana Abad) slum area of Lahore. Method: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted in Yuhana Abad, a suburb of Lahore, Pakistan. It is the largest majority Christian area in the city with about 200,000 inhabitants. To determine the perception of people a structured questionnaire was used to collect data and 384 households selected through the convenience sampling technique were interviewed. Result: Male participation in the study was 67% and female 33%, among both gender participants. The literate percentage was 74% and the illiterate 26%. 76% of people knew about dengue fever transmission, 80% knew the consequences of the disease, 64% knew the signs and symptoms, and 90% knew the most frequent mosquito bite time and prevention of the epidemic of dengue fever were good. Conclusion: We have found a prevalence of sufficient knowledge in our sample population based on knowledge of dengue. However, isolated knowledge on signs and symptoms, mode of transmission, and prevention are adequate, with preventive measures mainly focused on protection from mosquito bites by using mosquito mat/coil/liquid vaporizers.