Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding dengue fever in undergraduate students of Natural Sciences at the Universidad del Atlántico, Northern Colombia

Authors

  • Pedro Calderón-Ariza San Rafael de Chucurí, Colombia
  • Jhonier Ruiz-Pérez Universidad del Atlántico, Colombia
  • Leidi Herrera Cabrera Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Paraguay
  • Marlon Mauricio Ardila Chávez Universidad del Atlántico, Colombia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.41.01.159.357%20

Keywords:

Aedes aegypti, dengue, knowledge, attitudes, practices (Source: MeSH)

Abstract

Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding dengue fever in third-semester undergraduate students of Natural Sciences at the Universidad del Atlántico, Puerto Colombia (Colombia). 

Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 52 third-semester undergraduate students of Natural Sciences at the Universidad del Atlántico. Three surveys were applied, one to gather socio-economic characteristics of the population, a second one to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding dengue fever, and a third KAP survey after implementing an educational tool for dengue prevention. The data were processed using Epi-Info 7 and analyzed using a Chi-square (X2) test. 

Results: 100.00 % of the respondents know about dengue, with 53.80 % unaware of the transmitting vector. Attitudes such as avoiding storing water in uncovered containers, spraying insecticides, and placing bottles upside down, and practices like covering water containers, using mosquito nets, and seeking medical care for dengue symptoms, improved significantly after the educational intervention. 

Conclusion: A correlation was found between socio-economic variables and behaviors that facilitate the presence of elements conducive to dengue. Despite knowing the vector, appropriate practices against dengue have yet to be carried out. 

Author Biographies

Pedro Calderón-Ariza, San Rafael de Chucurí, Colombia

Licenciado en Biología y Química, Universidad del Atlántico. Docente, Institución Educativa San Rafael de Chucurí, Barrancabermeja. pedrocalde@outlook.com. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1239-6386 

Jhonier Ruiz-Pérez, Universidad del Atlántico, Colombia

Licenciado en Biología y Química, Universidad del Atlántico. jhonirupe21@gmail.com. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6065-5592 

Leidi Herrera Cabrera, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Paraguay

Licenciada en Biología, Universidad Central de Venezuela. Doctora en Ciencias, mención Protozoología, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Investigadora, Instituto en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Asunción (Paraguay). Laboratorio de Biología de Vectores y Parásitos, Instituto de Zoología y Ecología Tropical, Universidad Central de Venezuela. herrerleidi@gmail.com. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8515-2078 

Marlon Mauricio Ardila Chávez, Universidad del Atlántico, Colombia

Biólogo y magíster en Biología, Universidad del Atlántico. Investigador, Grupo Interdisciplinario en Ciencias Marinas y Ambientales (GICMARA), Universidad del Atlántico. Departamento de Patología y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán (Chile). biomardila2@gmail.com. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1851-5307 

Published

2025-04-01

How to Cite

Calderón-Ariza, P. ., Ruiz-Pérez, J., Herrera Cabrera, L. ., & Ardila Chávez, M. M. (2025). Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding dengue fever in undergraduate students of Natural Sciences at the Universidad del Atlántico, Northern Colombia . Salud Uninorte, 41(1), 76–91. https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.41.01.159.357

Issue

Section

Original Article

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