HARNESSING SOCIAL AWARENESS FOR DENGUE PREVENTION: A SOCIOLOGICAL APPROACH TO COMBATTING DENGUE FEVER IN DISTRICT SWAT

Abstract

The present study, titled "Dengue Fever Awareness in District Swat," was conducted in Banr Engaro Dherai Union Council, Tehsil Babozai, District Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The study focused on four specific Mahallahs (streets): Tahir Abad, Banr, Engaro Dehri, and Usman Abad. A sample size of 354 respondents was proportionally allocated to each Mahallah and then randomly selected. The relationship between the independent variable (awareness of dengue) and the dependent variable (practices for dengue control) was tested using the Chi-Square test. The study found a significant association between dengue control practices and awareness of dengue fever symptoms (p = 0.002), proper treatment of infected individuals (p = 0.001), knowledge of appropriate medication for dengue fever (p = 0.004), and awareness of alternative cures (p = 0.0483). Based on the findings, policy recommendations emphasize the importance of raising awareness through interpersonal communication, particularly regarding dengue vectors, their biting behavior, dengue fever symptoms, initial treatment for dengue patients, recommended medications, and alternative cures.