Preparing for the tiny predators: Community readiness and perceptions of copepod-based dengue control in eastern...

Dengue remains a persistent public health challenge in eastern Guatemala, particularly in communities where irregular water supply, domestic water storage, and limited sanitation infrastructure create favorable conditions for Aedes aegypti proliferation. As concerns increase about the sustainability of chemical vector control, biological approaches such as the use of predatory copepods are receiving renewed attention. However, successful implementation depends not only on biological efficacy, but also on community awareness, acceptance, and willingness to adopt unfamiliar control methods.

We conducted a cross-sectional Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) survey among 346 adult household representatives in eight urban and rural communities in the departments of Zacapa and Chiquimula, Guatemala. The study assessed dengue-related knowledge, household prevention practices, perceived risk, and attitudes toward potential future copepod-based biological control. Most respondents correctly identified mosquitoes as the vector of dengue, but knowledge of breeding sites and preventive measures was less comprehensive and varied by educational level. Preventive practices were inconsistent: 37% of households reported taking no action to eliminate mosquito breeding sites, and only a minority reported using multiple prevention strategies. Although prior familiarity with copepods was limited, willingness to consider their use was high when linked to clear information, technical support, and assurances regarding water safety. Concerns focused primarily on the introduction of organisms into stored water and lack of knowledge about the method, particularly in urban communities.

The findings indicate a substantial gap between basic dengue awareness and routine household prevention practices in eastern Guatemala. At the same time, the high conditional openness toward copepod-based control suggests that biological approaches may be socially acceptable if introduced through trusted local actors, transparent communication, and community engagement. These results support the further exploration of copepod-based interventions as a complementary, non-chemical vector control strategy. However, community acceptance should not be interpreted as evidence of effectiveness; rigorous field trials are needed to evaluate entomological impact, operational feasibility, safety, and sustainability under local environmental and household water-storage conditions.