A cross-sectional study on treatment and preventive measures of dengue fever

Abstract

Objective: The Arbovirus known as dengue belongs to the Flaviviridae class. Asymptomatic to severe illnesses (dengue haemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome) are the clinical spectrum of its expression. Despite the fact that this condition has been subject of extensive investigation, there is currently no cure. The goal of current study was to describe socioeconomic determinants and knowledge, attitude, and practice status of dengue treatment among population of Pakistan. Methods: From March 2023 to January 2024, cross-sectional survey involving 252 randomly chosen participants from various regions of Karachi were carried out. Systematic questionnaire was utilized to gather information about participant’s sociodemographic traits and their understanding of dengue fever and their practices for treating it. Factors related to awareness and comprehension of dengue were looked into independently by using IBM SPSS Statistics 20. Results: The majority of respondents were aware of dengue, yet they continued to have false beliefs about the areas where Aedes breeds. Misconceptions about Aedes breeding in unclean water were held by around half of the survey participants, and some were aware that Aedes bites most frequently at dawn and dusk. The level of preventative activity was marginally lower than the level of knowledge, despite a substantial (p<0.05) correlation between the two. Conclusion: As dengue spreads in Pakistan, it is critical to step up health promotion efforts by launching campaigns to dispel widespread misconceptions and information gaps regarding the disease and its treatment.