Table 3 Summarized knowledge characteristics of the study populations in the districts of Colombo and Kandy
Factor | Kandy (%) | Colombo (%) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Control n (%) | Positive n (%) | Control n (%) | Positive n (%) | |
Transmission of dengue | ||||
 Dengue is caused by a virus | 874 (87.4) | 650 (65.0) | 848 (84.8) | 578 (57.8) |
 Dengue virus has four serotypes | 685 (68.5) | 549 (54.9) | 794 (79.4) | 615 (61.5) |
 A person is vulnerable to dengue more than once | 698 (69.8) | 825 (82.5) | 785 (78.5) | 495 (49.5) |
 Dengue is transmitted by a mosquito | 1000 (100) | 1000 (100) | 1000 (100) | 1000 (100) |
 Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus are the vectors of dengue | 945 (94.5) | 735 (73.5) | 845 (84.5) | 687 (68.7) |
 Bites of infected mosquitoes may cause dengue to a healthy person | 845 (84.5) | 885 (88.5) | 925 (92.5) | 907 (90.7) |
Symptoms of dengue | ||||
 Fever | 1000 (100) | 1000 (100) | 1000 (100) | 1000 (100) |
 Joint pains | 755 (75.5) | 879 (87.9) | 678 (67.8) | 945 (94.5) |
 Rash | 648 (64.8) | 818 (81.8) | 547 (54.7) | 857 (85.7) |
 Headache | 725 (72.5) | 947 (94.7) | 697 (69.7) | 925 (92.5) |
 Muscular pain | 588 (58.8) | 895 (89.5) | 512 (51.2) | 945 (94.5) |
 Nausea/vomiting | 614 (61.4) | 754 (75.4) | 567 (56.7) | 785 (78.5) |
 Other | 185 (18.5) | 248 (24.8) | 128 (12.8) | 199 (19.9) |
Most frequent bite time | ||||
 At night | 118 (11.8) | 278 (27.8) | 58 (5.8) | 187 (18.7) |
 Daytime | 713 (71.3) | 542 (54.2) | 787 (78.7) | 489 (48.9) |
 Both day and night | 169 (16.9) | 180 (18.0) | 155 (15.5) | 324 (32.4) |
Vector morphology | ||||
 Black in color | 874 (87.4) | 678 (67.8) | 905 (90.5) | 532 (53.2) |
 Have white spots on their legs | 657 (65.7) | 452 (45.2) | 725 (72.5) | 417 (41.7) |
 Slightly brownish in color | 126 (12.6) | 322 (32.2) | 95 (9.5) | 458 (45.8) |
Vector breeding | ||||
 Breed in standing water | 957 (95.7) | 905 (90.5) | 980 (98.0) | 885 (88.5) |
 Breed in clean water | 974 (97.4) | 955 (95.5) | 984 (98.4) | 917 (91.7) |
 Breed in leaf axils and plant surfaces | 675 (67.5) | 412 (41.2) | 784 (78.4) | 457 (45.7) |
 Breed in water retention tanks in A\C machines and refrigerators | 745 (74.5) | 510 (51.0) | 782 (78.2) | 528 (52.8) |
Summarized knowledge scores | ||||
 Transmission of dengue | 841 (84.1) | 774 (77.4) | 866 (86.6) | 714 (71.4) |
 Symptoms of dengue | 645 (64.5) | 792 (79.2) | 589 (58.9) | 808 (80.8) |
 Biting behaviour | 713 (71.3) | 542 (54.2) | 787 (78.7) | 489 (48.9) |
 Vector morphology | 766 (76.6) | 565 (56.5) | 815 (81.5) | 475 (47.5) |
 Vector breeding | 838 (83.8) | 696 (69.6) | 883 (88.3) | 697 (69.7) |
Chi-square statistics | χ2 = 5.94, P = 0.20a | χ2 = 15.42, P = 0.04b* | ||