The prevention of arboviral diseases using mobile devices: a preliminary study of the attitudes and behaviour change produced by educational interventions
Authors
Traxler, JohnBond, Carol
Matheson, David
Santos, Silvana
Santos-Silva,, Tais
Olinda,, Ricardo
Mangueira,, Francisco
Smania-Marques,, Roberta
Albino, Victor
Issue Date
2019-10-18
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Show full item recordAbstract
Objectives In Brazil, the National Policy for Dengue Control seeks to incorporate the lessons of national and international experience in dengue control, emphasizing the need for health education activities. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare knowledge, attitudes and behaviours related to the prevention of arboviruses before and after a two‐month educational intervention using a learning platform on mobile devices. Methods This quasi‐experimental study corresponds to the first phase of the project "Impact of mobile learning in the prevention and management of complications caused by arboviruses (Zika, Dengue, Chikungunya) – ZIKAMOB”, sponsored as part of the British Council Newton Fund. Results Thirty of the 93 participants were first‐year undergraduate university students (36.7% male) and 63 were police officers (84.1% male). The pattern of attitudes and behaviour was very similar in both groups before the intervention. The students changed their attitudes and behaviour (p=0.032) in relation to their engagements in actions for the prevention of arboviral diseases and several other activities related to house inspections and precautions with water tanks (p<0.01). However, recycling and surveillance activities were not as effective in changing behaviour. Female participants showed more motivation to participate in preventive activities, but living alone and working were barriers to participation. Individuals who already perform selective waste collection and are cultivating gardens demonstrated both a positive attitude and positive behaviour towards actions for the prevention of arboviral diseases. Conclusion Mobile learning and behaviour change theories might be successful as the basis for school‐based and community‐based interventions to avoid arboviruses. These outcomes need to be confirmed in broader future studies.Citation
Fernandes, F., Mangueira, A., Smania‐Marques, R., Dutra Fernandes, I., Alves Albino, V., Olinda, R., Acácia Santos‐Silva, T., Traxler, J., Matheson, D. and Santos, S. (2019) The prevention of arboviral diseases using mobile devices: a preliminary study of the attitudes and behaviour change produced by educational interventions, Tropical Medicine and International Health, https://doi.org/10.1111/tmi.13316Publisher
WileyJournal
Tropical Medicine and International HealthAdditional Links
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/tmi.13316Type
Journal articleLanguage
enISSN
1360-2276ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1111/tmi.13316
Scopus Count
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Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/