ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Dengue has become a major health issue in tropical regions as the numbers of reported cases and estimated infections continuously increase. In the Philippines, many challenges remain in preventing and controlling the disease amidst all the mitigation efforts of the government. This study sought to measure the health literacy of Filipino teachers and determine the associations among teachers' knowledge, attitudes, and selected practices (KAP) against dengue. METHODS: Elementary and secondary school teachers from the consistently declared dengue hotspots in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines, from the years 2017 to 2019 were selected as target participants in this cross-sectional study. A self-administered online survey tool was used in this study for both screening of participants and the KAP survey proper. STATA, descriptive statistics, and multiple logistic regression were used for the data analysis. Odds Ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported. RESULTS: The study comprised 604 participants whose mean age was 38.4 years. Television was determined as the top media source of information, and various health staff were the most trusted and common source of information. Good knowledge on dengue treatment (OR = 1.81; 95% CI 1.18-2.78) and dengue prevention (OR = 1.85; 95% CI 1.26-2.71) were positively associated with having good practices on protection against mosquito bites. Good knowledge on dengue signs and symptoms (OR = 1.56; 95% CI 1.02-2.37) and dengue prevention (OR = 2.38; 95% CI 1.59-3.58) were positively associated with having good practices on preventing breeding sites. Those with positive perceived susceptibility to dengue had lower odds of having good practices on protection against mosquito bites (OR = 0.64; 95% CI 0.41-0.99) and of having good practices on preventing breeding sites (OR = 0.46; 95% CI 0.26-0.81). CONCLUSION: Even with the existing dengue policies, programs, and strategies, and the high disease literacy rate of Filipinos, dengue remains a struggle with an increasing case rate. Therefore, specific concepts should be emphasized, and interventions should be fine-tuned to better reach and influence the target population to attain a dengue-free Philippines.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Dengue remains a major public health problem in the Philippines, particularly in urban areas of the National Capital Region. Thematic mapping using geographic information systems complemented by spatial analysis such as cluster analysis and hot spot detection can provide useful information to guide preventive measures and control strategies against dengue. Hence, this study was aimed to describe the spatiotemporal distribution of dengue incidence and identify dengue hot spots by barangay using reported cases from Quezon City, the Philippines from 2010 to 2017. METHODS: Reported dengue case data at barangay level from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2017 were obtained from the Quezon City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit. The annual incidence rate of dengue from 2010 to 2017, expressed as the total number of dengue cases per 10,000 population in each year, was calculated for each barangay. Thematic mapping, global cluster analysis, and hot spot analysis were performed using ArcGIS 10.3.1. RESULTS: The number of reported dengue cases and their spatial distribution varied highly between years. Local clusters were evident during the study period. Eighteen barangays were identified as hot spots. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the spatial heterogeneity and instability of hot spots in Quezon City across years, efforts towards the containment of dengue can be made more targeted, and efficient with the application of hot spot analysis in routine surveillance. This may be useful not only for the control of dengue but also for other diseases, and for public health planning, monitoring, and evaluation.
