[Community-based survey on knowledge and perceptions about dengue and preventive practice in Lisa municipality, City of Havana province].

INTRODUCTION

the population's knowledge is important to develop participatory processes that support the reduction of Aedes aegypti.

OBJECTIVES

to identify sociodemographic factors, knowledge, perceptions and practice in the population of three people's councils in Lisa municipality about Aedes aegypti control and dengue prevention; to determine the association of these sociodemographic factors with the adequate level of knowledge about dengue, and relate the implementation of suitable practice to risk knowledge and perceptions.

METHODS

cross-sectional study was conducted in which surveys and an observational guide were applied to a randomized sample of individuals living in the selected areas. Percentages from the people's councils were compared whereas two logistic regression models to set relations among the studied variables were adjusted for.

RESULTS

the most cited breeding site for Aedes aegypti was garbage (67.3%), the most referred preventive measure was container covering (90.2%); perception of risk of getting sick was low or non-existent (55%); regarding the visited houses, the most used practices were cleaning of backyards and water tank protection. In the multi-variate analysis, the young people showed better knowledge than people aged over 59 years whereas those people having better knowledge of breeding sites and preventive measures were the ones who followed adequate practice.

CONCLUSIONS

it was demonstrated that adequate knowledge on dengue and its vector are related to better implementation of suitable preventive measures in the house; however, specific aspects on breeding sites should be taken into consideration within the educational programs carried out in each locality.