Developing Risk Assessment Criteria and Predicting High- and Low-Dengue Risk Villages for Strengthening Dengue Prevention Activities: Community Participatory Action Research, Thailand

Abstract

Background: Risk assessment criteria for predicting dengue outbreak must be appropriated at village levels. We aimed to develop risk dengue village prediction criteria, predict village dengue risk, and strengthen dengue prevention based on community participation. Methods: This participatory research conducted in Southern Thailand included the following 5 phases: (i) preparing communities in 3 districts; (ii) developing risk dengue village prediction criteria; (iii) applying computer program; (iv) predicting village dengue risk with 75 public health providers in 39 PCUs; and (v) utilizing findings to strengthen dengue prevention activities in 220 villages. Data collecting for prediction used secondary data from primary care units in the past 5 year and current year. Descriptive statistics used calculating criteria and comparing with standard level to adjust score of risk. Results: Risk dengue village assessment criteria had 2 aspects: dengue severity (3 factors) and dengue outbreak opportunity (3 factors). Total scores were 33 points and cut-off of 17 points for high and low dengue risks villages. All criteria were applied using computer program ( http://surat.denguelim.com ). Risk prediction involved stakeholder participation in 220 villages, and used for strengthening dengue prevention activities. The concept of integrated vector management included larval indices surveillance system, garbage management, larval indices level lower than the standard, community capacity activities for dengue prevention, and school-based dengue prevention. The risk prediction criteria and process mobilized villages for dengue prevention activities to decrease morbidity rate. Conclusion: Dengue risk assessment criteria were appropriated within the village, with its smallest unit, the household, included. The data can be utilized at village levels for evaluating dengue outbreak risks.

Understanding dengue solution and larval indices surveillance system among village health volunteers in high- and low-risk dengue villages in southern Thailand

“…A possible reason could be that, although all VHVs were equally trained regarding the process of the surveillance system, only the head of VHVs and the health care officer received training concerning dengue solutions. Alternatively, dengue risk assessment may be known to all VHVs, but they may not be able to effectively communicate its results [ 25 ]. It is also possible that VHVs from H-RDVs had greater UDS than those from L-RDVs because of differences in factors such as the public health officer's training in PCUs, sex, time of work, and dengue experience in the past 12 months.…”

“…Villages in the district are predicted to be at high and low risk for dengue based on a community participatory action approach. This prediction was divided into three steps [ 24 , 25 ]. Step 1 was to determine the risk of dengue using prediction criteria.…”

“…Step 3 was to predict high- and low-risk dengue villages using half of the total scores (33 points) from the severity and opportunity factors in Step 1. Therefore, the risk cut-off value was determined to be 17 of 33 points [ 25 ]. Villages were considered high-risk if they scored 17 or more points, and low-risk if they scored <17 points.…”

Effects of the Developing and Using a Model to Predict Dengue Risk Villages Based on Subdistrict Administrative Organization in Southern Thailand

“…Step 1. Determine the dengue risk using the dengue risk assessment criteria and the prediction of high/low risk criteria from the study in southern Thailand [12]. Dengue risk refers to an opportunity for dengue to emerge in a region.…”

“…It showed that few SAOs have an understanding of the act, which results in inadequate enforcement [5]. In addition to the participation of the community members in dengue prevention, control activities were conducted by researchers, with supporting funds from outside the community [8][9][10][11][12][13][14]. Furthermore, the knowledge, attitude, practice, and behavior of the stakeholders were found to be crucial for dengue control [15].…”