Sociodemographic predictors of knowledge, mosquito bite patterns and protective behaviors concerning vector borne disease: The case of dengue fever in Chinese subtropical city, Hong Kong

• Published in: PLoS neglected tropical diseases Vol. 15; no. 1; p. e0008993
• Main Authors: Chan, Emily Ying Yang, Lo, Eugene Siu Kai, Huang, Zhe, Lam, Holly Ching Yu, Yeung, May Pui-shan, Kwok, Kin-on, Hung, Kevin Kei Ching, Tse, Shelly Lap-ah
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 19.01.2021; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biology and Life Sciences; Bites and stings; Control; Dengue; Dengue - epidemiology; Dengue - prevention & control; Dengue - transmission; Disease Outbreaks - prevention & control; Engineering and Technology; Female; Health behavior; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health literacy; Hong Kong - epidemiology; Humans; Insect Bites and Stings - epidemiology; Insect Bites and Stings - prevention & control; Male; Medicine and Health Sciences; Middle Aged; Mosquito Control - methods; Mosquito Vectors; Mosquitoes; People and places; Prevention; Research and Analysis Methods; Risk factors; Social Sciences; Sociological Factors; Surveys; Surveys and Questionnaires; Hong Kong; Hong Kong, China
• ISSN: 1935-2735; 1935-2727; 1935-2735
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008993

Geographic pattern of dengue fever is changing due to the global environmental and climate changes in the 21 st century. Evidence of community’s knowledge, mosquito bite patterns and protective behavior practices in non-endemic regions is limited. This study examined the knowledge of dengue, mosquito bite patterns, protective behavior practices and their associated factors in Hong Kong, a non-endemic subtropical city. A population-based random telephone survey (n = 590) was conducted three weeks after the government announcement of a local dengue outbreak in August 2018. Sociodemographic status, awareness, knowledge, protective measures, bite patterns of mosquito were collected. Results indicated high level of community awareness of the local outbreak (95.2%), symptom identification (84.0%) and adoption of at least one mosquito protective measures (nearly 80%). About 40% of respondents reported that they were bitten by mosquitoes during the study period, a high mosquito season in Hong Kong. Mosquito bites were prevalent near grassy area (63.4%), at home (42.6%) and at public transportation waiting spots (39.6%). Younger people (< 25 years old), female, those who lived on lower floors (≤the 6 th ) and near grassy area were at higher risk of mosquito bites at home. Respondents perceived higher threat of dengue to society were more likely to practice mosquito prevention. While residential factors affected their indoor prevention, other socio-demographic factors affected the outdoor prevention. Practicing prevention behaviors were associated with self-reported mosquito bite at home. Furthermore, the general prevention uptake rate unchanged after the announcement of local dengue outbreak. Although the uptake rate of protective measures during August was high, 40% participants reported they were bitten. Also public locations are more common area for bites, which suggested stronger mosquito prevention and control on public environments and more personal protective behaviors should be advocated.