Advanced Search Abstract Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya arboviruses DZC , mainly transmitted by mosquito Aedes aegypti, are global health public issues affecting million people each year. In most endemic countries, vector control strategies have been focused on reducing breeding sites and adult mosquito populations. Most health communication strategies have pointed out adult mosquito as the main responsible of the transmission, persuading people to eliminate domestic containers.
However, it is not clear how should people understand the relationship between adult mosquitoes and water domestic containers. So, the main goal of the present study was to assess the people understanding of this relationship. Results showed that most people associate adult mosquitoes with DZC, but only few could associate swimming larvae with mosquitoes.
The unawareness of larva presence leads to an underestimation of risk perception about DZC transmission. In this context, we consider that educative interventions for health promotion, based on meaningful knowledge and social representations arise as long-term strategies to control transmission of vector-borne diseases. Here, we propose innovative health strategies focused on increase the risk perception about swimming larvae, considering social representations, which may be a key stepping stone to increase people adherence to massive campaigns and reducing DZC burden.
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