Knowledge Gap to Action: Impact of a Community Based Health Education Intervention on Dengue Fever Awareness
1
KURA Research Center, Kasaala, Sudan
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Dengue fever remains a significant public health challenge in endemic regions, often exacerbated by community misconceptions regarding transmission and management. Effective health education is critical for disease prevention and safe home-based care. This audit evaluated the immediate impact of a targeted health education program on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of residents in New Halfa Village regarding dengue fever.
METHODS:
A pre-test/post-test interventional study design was employed with a cohort of 42 participants from New Halfa Village. Participants completed a structured questionnaire assessing knowledge of dengue transmission, symptoms, severe signs, and medication safety before and after attending a health awareness session. Data were analyzed to measure changes in knowledge scores and specific competencies.
RESULTS:
The intervention resulted in a significant improvement in overall knowledge, with the average score rising from 5.19 (pre-education) to 8.0 (post-education) out of 9 possible points. The most critical safety improvement was observed in medication awareness: prior to education, only 31.0% of participants knew to avoid aspirin; this increased to 97.6% post-intervention. Similarly, recognition of severe hemorrhagic signs (e.g., bleeding, shock) doubled from 47.6% to 95.2%. However, a persistent misconception regarding transmission vectors remained: despite the intervention, 61.9% of participants continued to incorrectly believe that dengue can be transmitted directly from person to person via touch . Participant satisfaction was high, with 100% recommending the session to others.
CONCLUSIONS:
The health education program was highly effective in improving clinical awareness and critical safety practices, particularly regarding the avoidance of contraindicated medications like aspirin. However, deep-seated misconceptions regarding direct transmission proved resistant to standard educational methods. Future interventions in Halfa Village should employ targeted behavioral change communication strategies to distinguish between vector-borne and direct contact transmission.
Dengue fever remains a significant public health challenge in endemic regions, often exacerbated by community misconceptions regarding transmission and management. Effective health education is critical for disease prevention and safe home-based care. This audit evaluated the immediate impact of a targeted health education program on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of residents in New Halfa Village regarding dengue fever.
METHODS:
A pre-test/post-test interventional study design was employed with a cohort of 42 participants from New Halfa Village. Participants completed a structured questionnaire assessing knowledge of dengue transmission, symptoms, severe signs, and medication safety before and after attending a health awareness session. Data were analyzed to measure changes in knowledge scores and specific competencies.
RESULTS:
The intervention resulted in a significant improvement in overall knowledge, with the average score rising from 5.19 (pre-education) to 8.0 (post-education) out of 9 possible points. The most critical safety improvement was observed in medication awareness: prior to education, only 31.0% of participants knew to avoid aspirin; this increased to 97.6% post-intervention. Similarly, recognition of severe hemorrhagic signs (e.g., bleeding, shock) doubled from 47.6% to 95.2%. However, a persistent misconception regarding transmission vectors remained: despite the intervention, 61.9% of participants continued to incorrectly believe that dengue can be transmitted directly from person to person via touch . Participant satisfaction was high, with 100% recommending the session to others.
CONCLUSIONS:
The health education program was highly effective in improving clinical awareness and critical safety practices, particularly regarding the avoidance of contraindicated medications like aspirin. However, deep-seated misconceptions regarding direct transmission proved resistant to standard educational methods. Future interventions in Halfa Village should employ targeted behavioral change communication strategies to distinguish between vector-borne and direct contact transmission.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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