Sains Malaysiana 48(4)(2019): 841–849

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2019-4804-16

 

Knowledge and Practices Regarding Aedes Control Amongst Residents of Dengue Hotspot Areas in Selangor: A Cross-Sectional Study

(Pengetahuan dan Amalan Kawalan Aedes dalam Kalangan Penduduk Kawasan Khas Denggi

di Selangor: Suatu Kajian Keratan Lintang)

 

ZUL-'IZZAT IKHWAN ZAINI^1,2, HIDAYATULFATHI OTHMAN¹*, NORHAFIZAH KARIM¹, NOR AZIMAH ABD RASHID¹, MOHAMAD BADRUL HISHAM ABAS¹, MAZRURA SAHANI¹, ROZITA HOD³ & SAIFUL AZLAN NORDIN¹

 

¹School of Diagnostic and Applied Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abd. Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia

 

²Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam Campus, 42300 Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

 

³Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia

 

Received: 9 September 2018/Accepted: 8 February 2019

 

ABSTRACT

Dengue fever is endemic and remains a public health concern in Malaysia. The highest number of dengue cases occurred in Selangor in 2015. The majority of hotspot and outbreak areas in Malaysia were located in residential areas. Despite the high number of dengue prevalence in Malaysia, evidence for the level of community knowledge and practice of methods for Aedes control and prevention in the country remains scant. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the demographic factors associated with the knowledge and practice of Aedes control and prevention methods. It also aimed to assess the associations and relationships between the public knowledge and practice of Aedes control and preventive activities involving Aedes larvae ovitraps (ALOTs), Mousticide, Denguard and other methods. Two residential areas that were considered as dengue hotspots were selected for the introduction of Aedes control and prevention programs. A sample size was calculated using G*power and a total of 152 residents who attended the dengue awareness events held at Section 3 and Section 8, Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor, were recruited. A purposive sampling approach was adopted, and data were collected by using a pretested questionnaire with three subsections on sociodemographic information and on the knowledge and practice of Aedes control and prevention methods. No statistically significant (p>0.05) relationship between demographic factors and knowledge and practice scores was found. The results of χ2 square test showed a strong (φ-coefficient = 0.605) and significant (p<0.001) association between knowledge and practice scores. In addition, a strong and significant positive correlation (r=0.648, p<0.001) existed between knowledge and practice scores. In conclusion, health promotion programs that focus on educating the public regarding the use of Aedes larvae ovitraps (ALOTs), Mousticide, Denguard and other methods to prevent and control Aedes mosquitoes and that involve multiple stakeholders, such as government officials and responsible authorities, and the active participation of communities are crucial in the war against Aedes.

 

Keywords: Aedes larvae ovitraps (ALOTs); Denguard; knowledge; Mousticide; practices

 

ABSTRAK

Demam denggi adalah penyakit endemik yang berterusan menjadi masalah kesihatan awam di Malaysia. Negeri Selangor mencatatkan jumlah kes tertinggi pada tahun 2015 dan kebanyakan kawasan wabak dan kawasan khas yang berlaku di Malaysia adalah di kawasan perumahan. Walaupun dengan prevalens kes denggi yang tinggi, namun begitu masih terdapat kekurangan maklumat berkenaan tahap pengetahuan dan amalan komuniti terhadap langkah pengawalan dan pencegahan nyamuk Aedes. Kajian keratan rentas dijalankan bagi mengenal pasti faktor demografi yang mempengaruhi tahap pengetahuan dan amalan berkenaan langkah pengawalan dan pencegahan nyamuk Aedes. Kajian juga bertujuan mengenal pasti hubungan antara pengetahuan masyarakat dan amalan berkenaan langkah pengawalan dan pencegahan yang melibatkan Aedes larvae ovitraps (ALOTs), Mousticide, Denguard dan langkah-langkah yang lain. Dua kawasan perumahan berstatus kawasan khas telah dipilih dan diperkenalkan dengan program pengawalan dan pencegahan nyamuk Aedes menggunakan Aedes larvae ovitraps (ALOTs), Mousticide, Denguard dan langkah-langkah pengawalan dan pencegahan yang lain. Pengiraan sampel adalah menggunakan perisian G*power dan sebanyak 152 orang penduduk yang hadir semasa program kesedaran demam denggi di Seksyen 3 dan Seksyen 8, Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor dipilih sebagai sampel. Kaedah pensampelan bertujuan digunakan dan data kajian dikumpul menggunakan borang soal selidik yang telah diuji yang mengandungi tiga bahagian iaitu bahagian sosio demografi, bahagian pengetahuan dan bahagian amalan bagi pengawalan dan pencegahan untuk pengumpulan data. Tiada faktor demografi yang signifikan (p>0.05) dalam mempengaruhi pengetahuan dan amalan. Ujian χ2 kuasa dua menunjukkan hubungan signifikan (p<0.001) yang kuat (φ-coefficient = 0.605) antara skor bagi pengetahuan dan amalan. Terdapat signifikan korelasi positif yang kuat (r = 0.648, p<0.001) antara skor bagi pengetahuan dan amalan. Kesimpulannya, program promosi kesihatan yang melibatkan pelbagai pihak seperti badan kerajaan, pihak yang berwajib dan penglibatan aktif daripada masyarakat yang memfokuskan dalam mendidik masyarakat berkenaan penggunaan Aedes larvae ovitraps (ALOTs), Mousticide, Denguard dan langkah-langkah pengawalan dan pencegahan nyamuk Aedes adalah penting dalam memerangi nyamuk Aedes.

 

Kata kunci: Aedes larvae ovitraps (ALOTs); amalan; Denguard; pengetahuan; Mousticide

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*Corresponding author; email: hida@ukm.edu.my