Effectiveness of dengue training programmes on prevention and control among high school students in the Yangon region, Myanmar

BACKGROUND: Dengue is one of the health problems in Myanmar. Thus, health promotion in schools is considered a key approach for reducing risk-taking behaviours related to dengue. OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to evaluate a dengue training programme for high school students to measure changes in knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) towards dengue; evaluate the effectiveness of the programme in improving prevention and control practices among families and determining changes in larval indices in their dwelling places. METHODOLOGY: The dengue school training programme was conducted for Grades 9 and 10 students in Yangon. In total, 300 students in the intervention school received training and were compared with 300 students as control. KAP was assessed using a self-administered questionnaire, whereas larval and control practice surveys were conducted at the homes of both groups 3 months before and after the programme. RESULTS: The KAP scores of the intervention group increased after the programme. Moreover, the programme improved prevention and control practices and decreased the larval indices in the intervention group. Students from the same group with high scores in knowledge and self-reported practices were less likely to exhibit Aedes larval positivity in their residential areas. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the impact of the dengue training programme on the KAP of students and short-term family larval control practices, which influenced household larval indices.