Effectiveness of dengue awareness calendar among Orang Asli population in Selangor / Arulvani Rajandra

Arulvani , Rajandra (2022) Effectiveness of dengue awareness calendar among Orang Asli population in Selangor / Arulvani Rajandra. Masters thesis, Universiti Malaya.

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Abstract

Background: Dengue cases are increasing at an alarming rate and prevalent among the marginalized minority community of Malaysia, Orang Asli due to their impoverished condition and lack of health awareness. Tailoring interventions using health educational materials is expected to curb dengue episodes by improving their knowledge, belief and practices (KBP) on dengue. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of dengue awareness calendar on knowledge, beliefs, and practices on dengue. This study also investigated the socio-demographic, environmental factors, increment in knowledge score, changes in health belief associated with increment in dengue prevention practices score. Method: A pre and post non control group study was conducted in selected nine Orang Asli villages in Selangor from July 2017 to July 2018. During the interphase of the intervention, a printed dengue awareness calendar on dengue distributed to the participants. The KBP scores on dengue were assessed before and after the interventions in all the nine villages to evaluate the dengue awareness calendar. Results: A total of 609 complete responses were obtained. The dengue awareness calendar significantly improved the knowledge score, perceived severity, cues to action, self-efficacy and the prevention practices score(p>0.05). The increment in prevention practices is significantly associated with tribes, education level, type of occupation, difference in perceived severity, difference perceived susceptibility and increase in total knowledge score. The Temuan tribe were significantly less likely (OR = 0.444, 95%CI= 0.254 – 0.777) to have increment in prevention practices score compared the reference group (other tribe). The findings showed that participants with primary (odds ratio (OR) =2.627. 95% Confidence Interval (Cl): (1.338-5.160, p< 0.05) and secondary level education (OR =2.263. 95% Cl:(1.126- 4.550, p<0.05) were more likely to exhibit improved dengue prevention practices scores. Housewives were less likely to have improved scores of dengue prevention practices (OR=0.535, 95%Cl:(0.289-0.950, p<0.05) after the intervention. Participants with higher dengue knowledge score (7-17) were more likely (OR= 2.390, 95% CI = 1.521 – 3.757, p<0.001) to have higher increment in dengue prevention practices score compared to those scored lower total knowledge score. Participants with no increment in perceived severity (OR= 0.349, 95%CI = 1.521- 3.757, p<0.05) and no increment perceived susceptibility (OR= 0.474, 95%CI = (0.286 – 0.785, p<0.00) were significantly less likely to have higher increment in dengue prevention practices score. Conclusion: Findings imply that the dengue awareness calendar designed for the intervention improved dengue prevention practices score. Thus, this study highlights on the importance of incorporating dengue awareness calendar as one of the implementations in the national program to ensure the positive knowledge and beliefs transform into real dengue prevention practices.

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