Title: Awareness about Mosquito Borne Diseases and Practice about Preventive Methods Against Mosquito Bite in Rural Field Practice Area of a Tertiary Care Teaching Institute, Telangana State

Authors: Vishnu Nandan Koduri, Kusneniwar GN

 DOI:  https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v6i2.81

Abstract

Background: Mosquitoes can transmit various diseases like Malaria, Filaria, Japanese Encephalitis, Dengue and Chikungunya. Awareness about the risk of mosquito bite and source reduction can prevent the transmission of these diseases. The present study was undertaken to assess the awareness of rural population about mosquito borne diseases and  preventive methods against mosquito bite and the personal protective measures taken by them.

Methodology: A cross- sectional study was conducted in the rural field practice area of a tertiary care teaching institute in Medchal- Malkajgiri district of Telangana state during March 2015- May 2015. A predesigned pre tested questionnaire was used for data collection from 270 participants. Data was entered into MS Excel sheet & analyzed by using SPSS version 16.

Results: Among the 270 participants, 88.89% knew that mosquitoes could transmit serious diseases. 67.4% participants had heard about malaria. 9.25% of the participants could not name a mosquito borne disease. 28.89% participants did not know the breeding sites of mosquito. 69.63% participants used one or the other personal protective measures (PPM). The most common method of PPM used was mosquito coils (28.72%).

Conclusion: The present study shows that though most of the respondents could identify that mosquitoes transmit serious diseases, there is a gap in the knowledge regarding the diseases transmitted by the mosquitoes& their breeding sites. Their knowledge about insecticide treated bed nets is very poor. There is a need to educate the rural population about mosquito breeding sites and source reduction to prevent mosquito borne diseases.

Keywords: Mosquito borne diseases, awareness, personal protective measures, rural area.

References

  1. World Health Organization. Neglected Tropical Diseases, Mosquito-borne diseases. Accessed on 25/01/2018 Available from http://www.who.int/neglected_diseases/vector_ecology/mosquito-borne-diseases/en/
  2. Govt of India (2017), Annual report 2016-2017, ministry of health and family welfare, New Delhi. Accessed on 25/01/2018. Available from http://mohfw.nic.in/sites/default/files/5201617.pdf.
  3. National Framework For Malaria Elimin-ation In India (2016-2030) [Accessed on 25/01/2018] Available from http://nvbdcp.gov.in/Doc/National-framework-for-malaria-elimination-in-India-2016%E2%80%932030.pdf.
  4. National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme Annual report 2014-15 [Accessed on 21/01/2018] Available from http://nvbdcp.gov.in/Doc/Annual-report-NVBDCP-2014-15.pdf.
  5. Pandit N, Patel Y, Bhavsar B. Knowledge and practice about preventive method against mosquito bite in Gujarat.Health Line. 2010;1:16–20.
  6. Boratne AV, Datta SS, Singh Z, Purty A, Jayanthi V, Senthilvel V. Attitude and practices regarding mosquito borne diseases and socio-demographic determinants for use of personal protection methods among adults in coastal Pondicherry.IJMS 2010;1:91–6.
  7. Sharma AK, Bhasin S, Chaturvedi SJ Predictors of knowledge about malaria in India Vector Borne Dis. 2007 Sep; 44(3):189-97.
  8. Sheraz Jamal Khan, Muhammad Usman, Yasir Abbass, Muhammad Hussain, MumtazAli.KAP Study On Malaria.Gomal Journal of Medical Sciences 2010(2); 8: 204-8.
  9. Patel AB, Rathod H, Shah P, Patel V, Garsondiya J, Sharma R. Perception regarding mosquito borne diseases in an urban area of Rajkot city.Natl J Med Res. 2011;1:45–47.
  10. Nitin J, Maria N, Shashidhar MK, Omar MR. Aswin S, Saiteja D, Jugnu SPC. Awareness, practices and expenditure towards mosquito bite prevention methods in urban and semi-urban areas of South India. Int J Mosq Res. 2015:53-59.
  11. Yerpude PN, Jogdand KS, Jogdand M. A study on awareness and practice about preventive methods against mosquito bite among households in an urban slum area of south India. International Journal of Recent Trends in Science and Technology 2013; 8:69-71.
  12. Babu BV, Mishra S, Mishra S, Swain BK. Personalprotection measures against mosquitoes: a study of practices and costs in a district, in the Indian state of Orissa, where malaria and lymphatic filariasis are coendemic. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 2007; 101:601-609.
  13. Surendran SN, Kajatheepan A. Perception and personal protective measures toward mosquito bites by communities in Jaffna District, northern Sri Lanka. J Am Mosq Control Assoc 2007; 23:182-186.
  14. Snehalatha KS, Ramaiah KD, Vijay Kumar KN, Das PK. The mosquito problem and type and costs of personal protection measures used in rural and urban communities in Pondicherry region, South India. Acta Trop 2003; 88:3-9.
  15. Dhaduk KM, Gandha KM, Vadera BN, Mehta JP, Parmar DV, Yadav SB. A community level KAP study on mosquito control in Jamnagar district. Natl J Community Med 2013;4:321-328.
  16. Butterworth MK. Knowledge, perceptions, and practices: Mosquito-borne disease transmission in Southwest Virginia. [dissertation]. Blacksburg, Virginia: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2009.
  17. Ziba C, Slutsker L, Chitsulo L, Steketee RW, Use of malaria prevention measures in Malawian households. Trop Med Parasitol. 1994 Mar;45(1):70-3.
  18. Kumar RK, Gururaj G. Community perception regarding mosquito-borne diseases in Karnataka State, India. Dengue Bulletin 2005; 29:157-164.

Corresponding Author

Dr Vishnu Nandan Koduri

Department of Community Medicine, MediCiti Institute of Medical Sciences, Ghanpur Village,

Medchal- Makkajgiri District, Telangana State, India

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.