Health Workers’ Perceived Challengesfor Dengue Prevention and Control in the Dominican Republic
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| Format: | Artículo científico |
| Language: | en |
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Medical Education Cooperation with Cuba
2017
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| _version_ | 1876454607561949184 |
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| author | Bienvenido A. Veras-Estévez |
| author_facet | Bienvenido A. Veras-Estévez |
| contents | Health Workers’ Perceived Challengesfor Dengue Prevention and Control in the Dominican Republic Bienvenido A. Veras-Estévez Helena J. Chapman Medicina Dengue control arbovirus prevention dengue virus INTRODUCTIONMosquito-transmitted dengue remains an endemicthreat to population health in various tropical and subtropical regions.Recommended dengue prevention practices focus on vector controland reducing human–mosquito interactions, by practices such asremoving standing water, wearing protective clothing and usingrepellent, as well as seeking medical care when symptomatic. Healthworkers in the community educate and empower citizens aboutrecommended prevention practices, and thus are indispensable inimplementing national dengue initiatives at the local level. However,their health messages may not resonate with all community members,resulting in low adherence to recommended prevention practices.Understanding the factors associated with low adherence to dengueprevention and control measures is essential for strengtheningnational dengue initiatives.OBJECTIVEIdentify health workers’ perceived challenges for dengueprevention and control strategies and describe their recommendationsfor strengthening dengue control in the Dominican Republic.METHODSFrom January through March 2005, a qualitative studywas conducted infive provinces of the Dominican Republic. Basedon literature review and consultations with clinical specialists, asemistructured interview guide of nine questions was designed.A purposive sample of 19 health workers (10 men, 9 women) wasinterviewed, including public health practitioners, entomologists,educators, clinicians and an administrator. Question topics includedoccupational experiences in dengue prevention and control; viewson vector control in communities; perceived challenges for citizens’adherence to recommended practices; and suggested measures forstrengthening adherence to vector control at local and national levels.Thematic analysis was used to identify salient themes.RESULTSHealth workers described the following perceivedchallenges: 1) limited individual economic resources; 2) individuallack of awareness, education or action; 3) limited cohesion amongcommunity members; and 4) limitations in sustainability of governmentinterventions. They made 14 recommendations related to the 4perceived challenges.CONCLUSIONSThesefindings evince the complex interplay ofeconomic, environmental, health, political and social factors that candirectly or indirectly influence individual and community adherenceto recommended dengue prevention measures. By understandinghow these intrinsic and extrinsic factors hinder adherence, healthauthorities can adapt national policies to strengthen communityparticipatory action in vector control, empower leadership potential byhealth workers and community members, and provide an appropriatesystemic approach to preventing disease transmission. 2017 artículo científico 1555-7960 https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=437553387007 en http://www.redalyc.org/revista.oa?id=4375 MEDICC Review application/pdf Medical Education Cooperation with Cuba MEDICC Review (Estados Unidos de América) Num.4 Vol.19 |
| format | Artículo científico |
| id | redalyc_437553387007 |
| institution | Redalyc |
| language | en |
| publishDate | 2017 |
| publisher | Medical Education Cooperation with Cuba |
| spellingShingle | Health Workers’ Perceived Challengesfor Dengue Prevention and Control in the Dominican Republic Bienvenido A. Veras-Estévez Medicina Dengue control arbovirus prevention dengue virus Health Workers’ Perceived Challengesfor Dengue Prevention and Control in the Dominican Republic Bienvenido A. Veras-Estévez Helena J. Chapman Medicina Dengue control arbovirus prevention dengue virus INTRODUCTIONMosquito-transmitted dengue remains an endemicthreat to population health in various tropical and subtropical regions.Recommended dengue prevention practices focus on vector controland reducing human–mosquito interactions, by practices such asremoving standing water, wearing protective clothing and usingrepellent, as well as seeking medical care when symptomatic. Healthworkers in the community educate and empower citizens aboutrecommended prevention practices, and thus are indispensable inimplementing national dengue initiatives at the local level. However,their health messages may not resonate with all community members,resulting in low adherence to recommended prevention practices.Understanding the factors associated with low adherence to dengueprevention and control measures is essential for strengtheningnational dengue initiatives.OBJECTIVEIdentify health workers’ perceived challenges for dengueprevention and control strategies and describe their recommendationsfor strengthening dengue control in the Dominican Republic.METHODSFrom January through March 2005, a qualitative studywas conducted infive provinces of the Dominican Republic. Basedon literature review and consultations with clinical specialists, asemistructured interview guide of nine questions was designed.A purposive sample of 19 health workers (10 men, 9 women) wasinterviewed, including public health practitioners, entomologists,educators, clinicians and an administrator. Question topics includedoccupational experiences in dengue prevention and control; viewson vector control in communities; perceived challenges for citizens’adherence to recommended practices; and suggested measures forstrengthening adherence to vector control at local and national levels.Thematic analysis was used to identify salient themes.RESULTSHealth workers described the following perceivedchallenges: 1) limited individual economic resources; 2) individuallack of awareness, education or action; 3) limited cohesion amongcommunity members; and 4) limitations in sustainability of governmentinterventions. They made 14 recommendations related to the 4perceived challenges.CONCLUSIONSThesefindings evince the complex interplay ofeconomic, environmental, health, political and social factors that candirectly or indirectly influence individual and community adherenceto recommended dengue prevention measures. By understandinghow these intrinsic and extrinsic factors hinder adherence, healthauthorities can adapt national policies to strengthen communityparticipatory action in vector control, empower leadership potential byhealth workers and community members, and provide an appropriatesystemic approach to preventing disease transmission. 2017 artículo científico 1555-7960 https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=437553387007 en http://www.redalyc.org/revista.oa?id=4375 MEDICC Review application/pdf Medical Education Cooperation with Cuba MEDICC Review (Estados Unidos de América) Num.4 Vol.19 |
| title | Health Workers’ Perceived Challengesfor Dengue Prevention and Control in the Dominican Republic |
| topic | Medicina Dengue control arbovirus prevention dengue virus |
| url | https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=437553387007 |