The Development of Measures to Control the Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever by Community Participation

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to develop measures to control dengue hemorrhagic fever by community participation. An action research was employed and based on the PAOR cycle. The study samples consisted of community leaders and people in the responsibility area of Ban Nado sub district hospital, Na Sok sub district, Mueang district, Mukdahan province, which were 723 people. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected. The study found that the participation started from problem detection, problem analyses, defining problem solutions, then participated the activities. There were 4 programs for solving the problems of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). As those results, the community participation established the measures for DHF control, including "7 days, survey, put in, look, release, spray, flag, fine". 7 days meant cleaning water storage containers every 7 days. Survey meant exploring the houses and put in referred to put abet sand in water retention as the common breeding places for Aedes larvae every 3 months. Look meant keeping environment clean and release meant releasing fish to water jars to control larvae. Spray meant getting rid of mosquitoes from the villages by chemical sparing. Flags were green, yellow, and red, which were used following the criteria of household survey for Aedes breeding places. Fine was to adjust household that the containers were found mosquito larvae as 5 Bahts per container. Summary, it was clear that people had improved knowledge, attitudes and practices. Community environment had been developed such as sleeping rooms, resting areas in daytimes, lighting in houses, hanging clothes, storages in houses, waste management. Therefor, household areas were not at risk for mosquito breeding. The success factors of the DHF control measures by community participation were establishing a committee from all sectors, understanding the community activities, and effectiveness of communication. Consequently, the measures had been conducted in the community.