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Protocol for Dengue Infections in Mosquitoes A. aegypti and Infection Phenotype Determination
Published on: July 4, 2007
Acceptability of impregnated school uniforms for dengue control in Thailand: a mixed methods approach
Natasha Murray1, Suphachai Jansarikij2, Phanthip Olanratmanee2
1Institute of Public Health, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Insights
Insecticide-impregnated school uniforms (ISUs) show high acceptability among parents, teachers, and principals in Thailand. This novel dengue prevention tool is well-received, with many willing to pay and recommend ISUs for children.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Entomology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Current dengue control strategies are largely ineffective in school-aged children.
- Insecticide-impregnated school uniforms (ISUs) offer a novel approach to dengue prevention in this demographic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the acceptability of permethrin-impregnated school uniforms (ISUs) among parents, teachers, and principals.
- To evaluate the willingness to pay for and recommend ISUs in a randomized control trial (RCT) setting.
Main Methods:
- A mixed-methods approach using quantitative (questionnaires) and qualitative (interviews, focus groups) data.
- 321 parents completed self-administered questionnaires; logistic regression analyzed quantitative data.
- Content analysis with coding and thematic development used for qualitative data.
Main Results:
- High acceptability of ISUs was observed, with 87.3% of parents allowing their child to wear them.
- 59.9% of parents would incur additional costs for ISUs, associated with household income and education level.
- 62.5% of parents would recommend ISUs to others.
Conclusions:
- Insecticide-impregnated school uniforms (ISUs) demonstrate high acceptability, indicated by low concern, willingness to pay, and recommendation.
- Further assessment of ISU acceptability over time is recommended, considering effectiveness and scalability for dengue control.
Background:
As current dengue control strategies have been shown to be largely ineffective in reducing dengue in school-aged children, novel approaches towards dengue control need to be studied. Insecticide-impregnated school uniforms represent an innovative approach with the theoretical potential to reduce dengue infections in school children.
Objectives:
This study took place in the context of a randomised control trial (RCT) to test the effectiveness of permethrin-impregnated school uniforms (ISUs) for dengue prevention in Chachoengsao Province, Thailand. The objective was to assess the acceptability of ISUs among parents, teachers, and principals of school children involved in the trial.
Methodology:
Quantitative and qualitative tools were used in a mixed methods approach. Class-clustered randomised samples of school children enrolled in the RCT were selected and their parents completed 321 self-administered questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to analyse the quantitative data. Focus group discussions and individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with parents, teachers, and principals. Qualitative data analysis involved content analysis with coding and thematic development.
Results:
The knowledge and experience of dengue was substantial. The acceptability of ISUs was high. Parents (87.3%; 95% CI 82.9-90.8) would allow their child to wear an ISU and 59.9% (95% CI 53.7-65.9) of parents would incur additional costs for an ISU over a normal uniform. This was significantly associated with the total monthly income of a household and the educational level of the respondent. Parents (62.5%; 95% CI 56.6-68.1) indicated they would be willing to recommend ISUs to other parents.
Conclusions:
Acceptability of the novel tool of ISUs was high as defined by the lack of concern along with the willingness to pay and recommend. Considering issues of effectiveness and scalability, assessing acceptability of ISUs over time is recommended.
