A Systematic Review of Communication for Behavioural Impact (COMBI) as a Dengue Prevention Programme

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Communication
• Epidemiology

Background:

• The World Health Organization's Communication for Behavioural Impact (COMBI) strategy promotes healthy behaviors.
• Malaysia utilizes the COMBI approach for dengue prevention, facing sustainability challenges.
• Understanding facilitators and barriers is crucial for effective dengue control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore factors influencing the sustainability of Malaysia's COMBI program for dengue prevention.
• To identify facilitators and barriers impacting the long-term effectiveness of the COMBI strategy in Malaysia.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted.
• Searches were performed across multiple databases (Scopus, PubMed, ScienceDirect, BMJ, Sage, Google Scholar).
• The SPIDER framework guided article selection, and the JBI Critical Appraisal Tool assessed study quality.

Main Results:

• COMBI programs positively impact knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to dengue prevention.
• Effective COMBI strategies lead to reduced dengue cases and mosquito breeding sites.
• Key themes identified include community engagement, leadership, funding, and multi-sectoral collaboration as critical for sustainability.

Conclusions:

• Sustaining COMBI programs requires addressing identified facilitating factors and barriers.
• Mixed-methods research and community-centric engagement are vital for refining COMBI strategies.
• Effective dengue prevention through COMBI contributes to long-term public health success in Malaysia and globally.