DENGUE FEVER

Objective: To assess the knowledge and practice of preventive measures againstdengue fever among medical students of Quaid-e-Azasm medical college and engineeringstudents of Islamia university, Bahawalpur. Design: Cross sectional descriptive study. Period:September 2012 to December 2012. Setting: Quaid-e-Azam Medial College and Engineeringwing of Islamia University Bahawalpur. Material and method: Sample size calculated for study8 by expecting prevalence of knowledge 78% in population of 1000 in each group with 5% marginof error and at 95% confidence interval was 263; by adding 10% response error sample became290 for each population. Individuals for study were selected by simple random sampling andinterviewed by using preformed questionnaire. Obtained data was analyzed by using SPSSversion 11. For categorization of knowledge and preventive practices against dengue fever intogood, satisfactory insufficient and poor scoring was done. Results: knowledge of protectivemeasures against dengue fever was found significantly better among medical than engineeringgroup (p85%while this knowledge with regard to covering of collected water, disposal of broken bottles andtins, daily change of water in room cooler and space spray was 50% or less. However, knowledgeof biological control for mosquito breed with regard to use of snail was very poor i.e. 20% or less.As for as the practices of preventive measures were concerned both groups had no significantdifference which were very poor in all aspects except screening of rooms which was more than90%. Conclusions: There is dire need for improvement in both knowledge and practices ofpreventive measures against dengue fever among students and general population.