Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To assess and correlate fear, uncertainty and practice of precautionary measures in relation to dengue fever (DF) in community from Lahore, Pakistan. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Lahore, Pakistan between September to November 2016. Multistage random sampling technique was used to enroll 400 adults from nine different towns. A self-constructed questionnaire was used to assess uncertainty, fear and practice of preventive measures. Data was analyzed using SPSS Version 21. RESULTS: Out of 400 participants, 214 (53.5%) were males and 186 (46.5%) were females, with age ranging between 16-65 years. In correlation analysis, fear had a slightly positive correlation with uncertainty (r=0.02), and preventive practice (r=0.01), whereas uncertainty had a negative correlation with preventive practice (r=-0.22). In demographic components, age had the best correlation with fear (r=0.12) as compared to others. Men reported to have greater uncertainty, t (1,198=2.11, p<0.04) and fear of having DF [t (1,198=3.71, p<0.001)], whereas women practised significantly more precautionary measures [t (1,198=-3.08, p<0.001)].The participants whose relative had suffered from DF reported greater fear, [t (1,198=2.78, p<0.01)] and uncertainty [t (1,198=2.04, p<0.05)]. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that uncertainty (ß=-0.34; p<0.001) and its interaction with gender (ß=0.22; p<0.01) were significant predictors of practice of preventive measures. CONCLUSION: Being male, having fewer years of education and having relatives who had suffered from DF were correlated more with uncertainty and fear. Women practiced preventive measures for DF more than men practice and had a higher uncertainty as well.
Keywords:
Prevention and Control MeSH
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Dengue MeSH
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Survey MeSH
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Methods
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Uncertainty MeSH
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Fear MeSH