Exploring Knowledge, Attitudes, and Preventive Practices Related to Dengue Fever Control: A cross-sectional study of 1,016 individuals

Dengue fever is a growing global health concern, especially in regions like the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where environmental factors and high levels of international travel increase the risk of outbreaks. Despite this, public awareness and adoption of preventive measures remain understudied. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the public's knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding dengue fever and its prevention. A validated online questionnaire was distributed to 1,106 individuals using convenience sampling.
The results revealed significant knowledge gaps, with only 24.6% correctly identifying dengue as a viral infection and 24.5% recognizing mosquito transmission. Median knowledge scores were higher among participants with elementary education (median = 13, IQR: 13-18), postgraduate degrees (median = 12, IQR: 8-15) than among those with other education levels, and higher among those with health insurance (median = 11, IQR: 10-13) than among those without insurance. Attitudes varied significantly based on education and residency, while regression analysis showed that male gender, older age, and smoking were associated with higher practice scores.
These findings emphasize the need for targeted educational campaigns and public health interventions to improve awareness and engagement with dengue prevention, particularly in vulnerable demographic groups.