Recent contributions about the Brazilian population's knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding dengue

Abstract

The traditional model for dengue control in Brazil has established that community participation is one of its main strategic pillars. In practice, this strategy has been unable to promote the involvement and behaviour change of the population, which are considered essential to control this endemic disease. In the present study, we carried out an integrative review of articles published in the scientific literature on knowledge, attitudes and practices of the population about the disease. This method was chosen because it allows gathering and synthesizing research findings on the selected theme, thus contributing to enhance knowledge on the investigated subject. We conclude that there is a gap between the government's actions and the population's reality, which suggests the need to implement a less vertical prevention and control policy, in which social knowledge can guide strategies for disease control in accordance with the community's interests, needs, desires and worldviews. In this perspective, the population ceases to be a mere spectator, dependent on previously defined actions, and occupies a prominent position in the process, ensuring the effectiveness and sustainability of the program's activities.