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Mario Mosquera, PhD;¹, Rafael Obregon, PhD², Mayra Orozco, MA¹, Angelica Pena, MA³, and Linda Lloyd, DrPH⁴. (1) Comunicacion Social, Universidad del Norte, Km 5 Via a Pto. Colombia, Barranquilla, Colombia, 575-3509-443, mmosquer@uninorte.edu.co, (2) School of Telecommunications, Ohio University, 097 RTVC Building, Athens, OH 45701, (3) Office for Control and Prevention of Dengue, Health Secretariat, Barranquilla, Health Secretariat, Barranquilla, Colombia, (4) School of Public Health, Public Health Consultant, 3443 Whittier St., RAS-W118B, San Diego, CA 92106

This paper presents the results of a multi-strategy, community-based health communication intervention for the control and prevention of dengue fever in low-income districts in Colombia's Atlantic Coast. This intervention 1) combined communication and community-based approaches that included advocacy, social marketing, health education, social mobilization, and edutainment and 2) explored the combination of entomological and psychosocial indicators to evaluate impact. The intervention promoted two key health practices for the elimination of mosquito breeding places: 1) washing of water-storage tanks with detergent and chlorine twice per week, and 2) washing twice per week of internal walls of containers commonly used as vases for aquatic plants. Impact of intervention was measured using psychosocial and entomological indicators. Before and after intervention measurements were taken using a survey questionnaire and focus group discussions to assess project impact based on data collected in the experimental group (Barranquilla) and in the control group (Puerto Colombia). Results showed a statistically significant increase in the experimental group on both behaviors. Qualitative data showed that, contrary to expectations, behavior change linking newly acquired knowledge and preventive behaviors was higher among younger people (18 to 30 years), who showed greater disposition to adopt the promoted behaviors. Results showed that entomological indicators are more useful when used in connection with psychosocial indicators. Drawing on various communication and behavior change theories, discussion focuses on the need to use multiple communication and community-based interventions, integrate psychosocial and entomological indicators, and identify new indicators such as gender to more effectively implement and evaluate interventions.

Learning Objectives:

• Articulate the combination of entomological and psicosocial indicators to evaluate impact of health communication interventions for prevention of dengue fever;
• Articulate components of a multi-strategy intervention for prevention of dengue fever;
• Identify emerging indicators for community-based interventions for prevention and control of dengue fever;

Keywords: Health Communications, Community Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered