Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) Regarding Dengue Fever: A Study of Health Care Professionals

Background and purpose: Dengue fever is one of the most common mosquito-borne diseases worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of health center employees in Kerman, Iran, regarding dengue fever. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among the employees of health centers in Kerman using a standardized four-part questionnaire in 2022. The first part of the questionnaire focused on demographics, the second on knowledge, the third on attitudes, and the fourth on personnel practices regarding dengue fever. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and SPSS software. Results: A total of 301 individuals participated in the present study. According to the results, 10.1% of the participants were physicians, 62.5% were healthcare employees, 14.5% were environmental and occupational health employees, and 12.8% were managers working in the health centers. The mean knowledge score of the study population was 6.56 ± 2.61. A positive correlation was found between the knowledge score, attitude score, and practice score (P = 0.001). The mean attitude score of the study population was 7.23 ± 1.14, which was positively correlated with age, work experience, knowledge score, and practice score (P < 0.05). The mean practice score of the study population was 6.05 ± 1.74, which showed no significant relationship with demographic variables; however, a positive correlation was observed between the practice score and age, work experience, knowledge score, and attitude score. Conclusion: The results indicated that the knowledge, attitude, and practice scores of health center employees in Kerman were at an average level. It is recommended that education and re-education on dengue fever be implemented among health center employees, as they are the first line of education and disease prevention.