The health belief model and dengue fever preventative behaviours: a pilot programme

Abstract

Contemporary management of dengue fever relies on community members controlling the host mosquito's breeding and protecting themselves from direct mosquito contact. Research indicates that obtaining this vital community participation component can be difficult. The current study used the Health Belief Model as a framework to identify beliefs statistically predictive of engagement in two distinct behaviours; mosquito control and self protection. The knowledge, beliefs and behaviours of 122 James Cook University students were surveyed. Results indicated that the Health Belief Model was effective at predicting mosquito control behaviours but less effective at predicting self protective behaviours. Dengue fever awareness campaigns that target peoples' beliefs may be most effective at eliciting mosquito control behaviours.