Dengue Fever Perception and Knowledge for Endemicity Control among University  Students of Karachi

Farhan Muhammad Qureshi; Samira Faiz Bari; Saima Masood; Masood Wazir; Sehrish Zehra; Ayesha Khalid

doi:10.37185/LnS.1.1.373

Farhan Muhammad Qureshi Karachi Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Karachi, Pakistan
Samira Faiz Bari Karachi Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Karachi, Pakistan
Saima Masood
Masood Wazir Karachi Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Karachi, Pakistan
Sehrish Zehra Karachi Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Karachi, Pakistan
Ayesha Khalid Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37185/LnS.1.1.373

Keywords: Dengue, Dengue Fever, Dengue Virus, Dengue Shock Syndrome, Knowledge.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the knowledge and the risk perception regarding dengue fever among the educated
population along with their behaviors towards prevention in the backdrop of rising cases of dengue at the
national level.
Study Design: Cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the Departments of Electrical, Software Engineering, Computer Sciences and Geophysics of Bahria University, Karachi Campus, Pakistan, from October 2021 to March 2022.
Methods: With an observational analytical study design, 333 students were recruited through convenient
sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The socio-demographic traits and general
information about dengue fever spread and prevention were presented in frequencies and percentages while
dengue fever knowledge, risk perception, and behavior of respondents were compared using a chi-square test
with the significance level set at 0.05.
Results: It was found that 79.8% of the students recognized that transmission of dengue is through mosquitoes, whereas only 17.4% identified the correct species of dengue infection. Twenty-two percent knew that dengue is a viral illness. Sixty-eight percent marked contaminated water as a mosquito breeding site, while 52.8% believed it to be trash/garbage. Eighty-nine, sixty-nine and fifty-two percent reported the use of window
screens, bed nets/mesh, and insect repellents as protective measures, respectively. Fifty-seven percent of
participants considered dengue a fatal illness. Eighty-eight and seventy-five percent recognized dengue as a
preventable and curable disease, respectively.
Conclusion: Educated participants in this study were misapprehensive that they had satisfactory knowledge,
risk perception, and behavior toward dengue fever. Very few had the correct knowledge regarding transmission
mode and spread and protective and preventive strategies. Information regarding transmission mode and
spread, as well as protective and preventive strategies, were insufficient.

How to cite this: Qureshi FM, Bari SF, Wazir SM, Wazir M, Zehra S, Khalid A. Dengue Fever Perception and Knowledge for Endemicity Control among University Students of Karachi Life and Science. 2024; 5(1): 75-82. doi: http://doi.org/10.37185/LnS.1.1.373