Health education effects on knowledge and management of arboviral diseases in Kenya: Evidence from randomised control trials

Communities’ knowledge and management strategies are essential to mitigate and control the threat of existing and emerging diseases. We use a randomized control trial to study the impacts of health education on farmers’ knowledge and management of Arboviral Diseases (ADs) in Kenya. Using a sample of 629 households drawn from the ADs hotspot counties of Baringo, Kwale and Kilifi, a difference-in-Difference method was employed to evaluate the health education effects on knowledge and management of Rift Valley Fever (RVF), chikungunya fever and dengue fever Health education training increased the intensity of farmers’ knowledge of ADs transmission modes, causes, and preventive measures. However, the treatment failed to change the ADs management behaviour of households. The study recommends that local administrative authorities and health officials should design and implement community-wide health education programs in order to improve respondents’ knowledge levels to prevent the spread of ADs in Kenya.