Department of Applied Health Science, School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, Indiana University Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.
J Sch Health. 2011 Sep;81(9):566-73. doi: 10.1111/j.1746-1561.2011.00628.x.
Dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DF/DHF) are epidemic and endemic in tropical and subtropical countries including Sri Lanka. Numerous structural and community interventions have been shown to be effective in interrupting the life cycle of mosquitoes that transmit DF/DHF; however, these interventions are not always implemented intensely and/or consistently enough to control the mosquito populations and suppress the disease. Following a planned and systematic training and mobilizing program, in conjunction with a public information campaign, seventh-, eighth-, and ninth-grade students in 2 schools performed multiple mosquito control and education interventions in their communities once a week for 8 weeks.
Five actions identified in previous literature and executed by students were tracked and secondary entomology data were obtained from public health surveillance systems. The Z-test for determining differences between proportions was utilized to determine significant changes between pre- and post-entomological survey findings in 2 intervention areas, 1 rural and 1 urban. Pre- and post-incidence rates from the intervention areas and comparable control areas were compared.
In intervention areas, all proportions of larval indexes were found to be significantly lower following the intervention. Surveillance data showed a 73% reduction in case load for the urban area and a 61% reduction in the rural area during the year following intervention.
If properly involved and guided, school children can be an asset to mosquito-borne disease control; the education sector could be an important partner in DF/DHF control.
登革热和登革出血热（DF/DHF）在包括斯里兰卡在内的热带和亚热带国家流行和地方性流行。大量结构和社区干预措施已被证明可有效阻断传播 DF/DHF 的蚊子的生命周期；然而，这些干预措施并不总是实施得足够密集和/或一致，无法控制蚊子种群并抑制疾病。在计划和系统的培训和动员计划以及公共信息宣传活动的配合下，2 所学校的 7、8、9 年级学生每周在社区进行多次蚊子控制和教育干预，持续 8 周。
跟踪了学生执行的先前文献中确定的 5 项行动，并从公共卫生监测系统中获得了次要昆虫学数据。利用 Z 检验确定了 2 个干预区（1 个农村和 1 个城市）的昆虫学调查前、后发现之间差异的显著性，这 2 个干预区都进行了干预。比较了干预区和可比对照区的发病前和发病后发病率。
在干预区，所有幼虫指数的比例在干预后均明显降低。监测数据显示，干预后城市地区的病例数减少了 73%，农村地区减少了 61%。
如果适当参与和指导，学童可以成为控制蚊媒疾病的资产；教育部门可以成为 DF/DHF 控制的重要合作伙伴。
