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

The World Health Organization's Communication for Behavioural Impact (COMBI) strategy aims to promote healthy behaviours through integrated communication. Malaysia has adopted the COMBI approach to combat dengue; however, sustaining these efforts presents ongoing challenges. This review explored the facilitating factors and barriers associated with challenges in the sustainability of Malaysia's COMBI programme for dengue prevention. We used the SPIDER framework (Sample, Phenomenon of Interest, Design, Evaluation, Research Type) to identify relevant articles, and we searched Scopus, PubMed, ScienceDirect, BMJ, Sage, and Google Scholar. Our search followed PRISMA guidelines, using Boolean operators "AND" and "OR" to connect keywords like "dengue" and "Communication for Behavioural Impact (COMBI)." The review included five articles, which were appraised by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Tool. Findings indicate that COMBI programmes significantly enhance knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) and reduce both dengue cases and mosquito breeding sites. The reviewed articles identified nine themes as either facilitating factors or barriers to the sustainability of COMBI: community engagement, leadership, political stability, mass media, public health campaigns, funding, human resources, multi-sectoral collaboration, and migration of residents. Identifying factors and barriers is key to improving the effectiveness and sustainability of COMBI programmes. This review highlights the importance of mixed methods research and community-centric engagement in addressing community issues and refining COMBI strategies. These comprehensive approaches are crucial for sustaining community involvement and ensuring the effectiveness of dengue prevention, thereby contributing to the long-term success of public health interventions in Malaysia and globally.