Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Dengue, Vector Control, and Vaccine Acceptance Among the Mexican Population.

Abstract

Introduction Dengue is a growing public health problem. Prevention strategies need to consider the population's attitudes, practices, and knowledge about the disease, including its transmission and preventive measures. This study aims to analyze the results of the cross-sectional GEMKAP (Growth & Emerging Markets, Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices) survey among the Mexican population and make recommendations for improvement. Methods A subset study of the GEMKAP survey was carried out, considering only Mexican participants. A total of 600 participants aged between 18 and 60 years were included. A web-based survey was administered from September to October 2022, with descriptive statistics applied for analysis. Results Six hundred people were evaluated; 55% were women, 39% were young adults, and 71% had at least a high school education. The scores obtained were: knowledge 48%, attitudes 68%, practices 42%, capability 55%, opportunity 61%, and motivation 58%. Knowledge regarding the vector varied; only 37% knew the four types of dengue virus, 18% were informed that co-infection with two or more types of the virus was possible, and 93% knew that dengue could be fatal. The majority (97%) reported implementing preventive measures for dengue. Confidence in vaccination was high (79%). The majority (80%) believed that the dengue vaccine should be available for everyone. Twenty-four percent would not get the vaccine if they had to pay for it, and 65% would get it to prevent dengue if a medical professional recommends it. The main concerns were the level of vaccine protection (46%) and safety (44%). Conclusions KAP studies provide valuable information obtained directly from the population affected by dengue. This data can help to improve dengue prevention and management strategies.