Factors associated with changing behaviour for arboviruses prevention: evidence from a quasi-experimental intervention study using mobile devices.

Abstract

Background: Dengue was reintroduced in Brazil in the 80’s. Since 2010, it is estimated that there have been over a million cases of dengue per year, leading to hundreds of deaths. Community health education is one of the main objectives of vector control policies.Objective: Here we compare perceptions and behaviours before and after an educational intervention based on behavioural change theories (BCT) of a group of Endemic Disease Control Agents (ACEs) with a group of college students of Campina Grande city, Paraiba state, Brazil.Methods: Using a distance-learning platform adapted for mobile devices, the intervention consisted of tasks or missions that were presented through short videos with people performing the desired target behaviour. To demonstrate the accomplishment of the tasks, participants produced videos and shared on social networks. A questionnaire was completed before and after the intervention by 58 participants, 31 students and 27 ACEs. Results: Most of the participants were female (83.9% and 72.2% of college students and ACEs, respectively); 27.8% of ACEs attended higher education and 70.4% were married contrasting with 9.8% of the students. Among college students, a significant difference in the chi-square test was found for all ten-target behaviours after the intervention. ANOVA analysis showed that ACEs have a higher perception of susceptibility and more fear of acquiring arboviruses than students do; and there was a correlation between facilitating behaviours with behaviour change. Conclusion: Intervention based on BCT thus contributed to bring students' behaviour patterns closer to those of ACEs.