The Effect of Training and Assistance via SMS Reminder on Aedes Aegypti Mosquito Control Behavior in Prevention of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever in Medan Helvetia District in 2015
Introduction
Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) is a significant public health problem in Indonesia, with a high number of cases reported in various areas, including Medan Helvetia District in Medan City. The disease is caused by the bite of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, and its prevention requires a comprehensive approach that involves increasing public awareness and behavior in controlling mosquito nests (PSN). This study aims to investigate the effect of training and assistance via SMS reminder on Aedes Aegypti mosquito control behavior in the prevention of DHF in Medan Helvetia District in 2015.
Background
DHF is a disease that affects millions of people worldwide, with Indonesia being one of the countries with the highest number of cases. The disease is caused by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which breeds in clean water and is found in urban and rural areas. The prevention of DHF requires a multi-faceted approach that involves increasing public awareness and behavior in controlling mosquito nests. Efforts to control DHF through the eradication of mosquito nests (PSN) are often ineffective, and therefore, training and assistance are needed to increase public awareness and behavior in PSN.
Methodology
This study was conducted with a quasi-experimental design, using the Nonequivalent Control Group design with pretest and posttest. The research population consisted of all houses that have mosquito larvae in Tanjung Gusta and Helvetia Tengah Village. The research sample consisted of 25 housewives for groups given training and 25 housewives for groups given training and assistance via SMS. Data was analyzed using the Friedman test, followed by Post Hoc analysis using the Wilcoxon and Mann Whitney test.
Results
The results showed a significant difference in knowledge, attitudes, behavior of PSN, and Container Index (CI) after the training methods and training methods were applied with assistance via SMS. The most significant changes occur in groups that receive training and assistance via SMS. This shows that training and assistance methods via SMS are more effective in increasing knowledge, attitudes, PSN behavior, and reducing CI compared to training methods only.
Discussion
Increasing knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of people in PSN is very important in the prevention of DHF. Puskesmas, as the frontline in handling DHF, must increase community participation and cross-sector cooperation to change the behavior of people who are at risk of transmission of DHF. The results of this study suggest that training and assistance via SMS reminder are effective in increasing knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of people in PSN.
Suggestions for Increasing the Effectiveness of the PSN Program
Based on the results of this study, the following suggestions are made to increase the effectiveness of the PSN program:
*** Increased community education : Puskesmas need to increase public education about DHF, how to prevent, and the importance of PSN regularly. This can be done through various channels, including social media, mobile applications, and community meetings.
*** Utilization of Information Technology : Utilization of SMS Reminder, Mobile Applications, and Social Media can be an effective tool to increase public awareness and remind about PSN. This can be done by creating a mobile application that provides information on DHF, how to prevent, and the importance of PSN.
*** Cross-sector Cooperation : Puskesmas must work closely with various parties, such as local governments, schools, and community organizations, to increase the effectiveness of the PSN program. This can be done by establishing partnerships with these organizations to increase community participation and awareness.
*** Increasing access and availability of PSN tools : Puskesmas needs to ensure the availability of PSN equipment that is easily accessible to the community, such as abate and mosquito catcher tools. This can be done by providing these tools to the community at a low cost or for free.
*** Environmental hygiene improvement : Community needs to be involved in the environmental cleanliness program, such as gathering waste and cleaning places that have the potential to become mosquito nests. This can be done by establishing a community-based environmental cleanliness program that involves the community in cleaning and maintaining their environment.
Conclusion
DHF prevention requires an active role from all levels of society. By increasing knowledge, attitudes, and behavior in PSN, as well as with the support of structured and comprehensive programs from related parties, it is expected to reduce the number of DHF cases in Medan Helvetia District, Medan City. The results of this study suggest that training and assistance via SMS reminder are effective in increasing knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of people in PSN. Therefore, it is recommended that Puskesmas and other related parties implement this approach to increase the effectiveness of the PSN program.
Recommendations
Based on the results of this study, the following recommendations are made:
Puskesmas and other related parties should implement training and assistance via SMS reminder to increase knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of people in PSN.
Puskesmas and other related parties should increase community education about DHF, how to prevent, and the importance of PSN regularly.
Puskesmas and other related parties should utilize information technology, such as SMS Reminder, Mobile Applications, and Social Media, to increase public awareness and remind about PSN.
Puskesmas and other related parties should work closely with various parties, such as local governments, schools, and community organizations, to increase the effectiveness of the PSN program.
Puskesmas and other related parties should ensure the availability of PSN equipment that is easily accessible to the community, such as abate and mosquito catcher tools.
Community needs to be involved in the environmental cleanliness program, such as gathering waste and cleaning places that have the potential to become mosquito nests.
Limitations of the Study
This study has several limitations. Firstly, the study was conducted in a specific area, Medan Helvetia District, and may not be generalizable to other areas. Secondly, the study only focused on the effect of training and assistance via SMS reminder on Aedes Aegypti mosquito control behavior and did not investigate other factors that may influence the effectiveness of the PSN program. Finally, the study only used a quasi-experimental design and may not be as effective as other research designs, such as randomized controlled trials.
Future Research Directions
Future research should investigate the effectiveness of other approaches to increase knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of people in PSN, such as community-based education and community-based environmental cleanliness programs. Additionally, future research should investigate the role of information technology in increasing public awareness and reminding about PSN. Finally, future research should investigate the effectiveness of cross-sector cooperation in increasing the effectiveness of the PSN program.Q&A: Effect of Training and Assistance via SMS Reminder on Aedes Aegypti Mosquito Control Behavior in Prevention of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever
Q: What is the main objective of this study?
A: The main objective of this study is to investigate the effect of training and assistance via SMS reminder on Aedes Aegypti mosquito control behavior in the prevention of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) in Medan Helvetia District in 2015.
Q: What is the significance of this study?
A: This study is significant because it provides evidence on the effectiveness of training and assistance via SMS reminder in increasing knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of people in controlling mosquito nests (PSN) in the prevention of DHF.
Q: What is the methodology used in this study?
A: This study used a quasi-experimental design, specifically the Nonequivalent Control Group design with pretest and posttest. The research population consisted of all houses that have mosquito larvae in Tanjung Gusta and Helvetia Tengah Village, and the research sample consisted of 25 housewives for groups given training and 25 housewives for groups given training and assistance via SMS.
Q: What are the results of this study?
A: The results of this study showed a significant difference in knowledge, attitudes, behavior of PSN, and Container Index (CI) after the training methods and training methods were applied with assistance via SMS. The most significant changes occur in groups that receive training and assistance via SMS.
Q: What are the implications of this study?
A: The implications of this study are that training and assistance via SMS reminder are effective in increasing knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of people in PSN. This suggests that Puskesmas and other related parties should implement this approach to increase the effectiveness of the PSN program.
Q: What are the limitations of this study?
A: This study has several limitations. Firstly, the study was conducted in a specific area, Medan Helvetia District, and may not be generalizable to other areas. Secondly, the study only focused on the effect of training and assistance via SMS reminder on Aedes Aegypti mosquito control behavior and did not investigate other factors that may influence the effectiveness of the PSN program.
Q: What are the recommendations of this study?
A: Based on the results of this study, the following recommendations are made:
Puskesmas and other related parties should implement training and assistance via SMS reminder to increase knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of people in PSN.
Puskesmas and other related parties should increase community education about DHF, how to prevent, and the importance of PSN regularly.
Puskesmas and other related parties should utilize information technology, such as SMS Reminder, Mobile Applications, and Social Media, to increase public awareness and remind about PSN.
Puskesmas and other related parties should work closely with various parties, such as local governments, schools, and community organizations, to increase the effectiveness of the PSN program.
Puskesmas and other related parties should ensure the availability of PSN equipment that is easily accessible to the community, such as abate and mosquito catcher tools.
Community needs to be involved in the environmental cleanliness program, such as gathering waste and cleaning places that have the potential to become mosquito nests.
Q: What are the future research directions?
A: Future research should investigate the effectiveness of other approaches to increase knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of people in PSN, such as community-based education and community-based environmental cleanliness programs. Additionally, future research should investigate the role of information technology in increasing public awareness and reminding about PSN. Finally, future research should investigate the effectiveness of cross-sector cooperation in increasing the effectiveness of the PSN program.
Q: What are the practical implications of this study?
A: The practical implications of this study are that Puskesmas and other related parties should implement training and assistance via SMS reminder to increase knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of people in PSN. This can be done by providing training and assistance to community members, increasing community education about DHF, and utilizing information technology to increase public awareness and remind about PSN.
Q: What are the policy implications of this study?
A: The policy implications of this study are that the government and other related parties should provide support and resources to Puskesmas and other related parties to implement training and assistance via SMS reminder. This can be done by providing funding, equipment, and personnel to support the implementation of this approach. Additionally, the government and other related parties should establish policies and regulations that support the implementation of this approach.