Ninth International Conference on Health, Wellness & Society

Abstract

This study was designed to look into the relationship between respondents’ exposure to Dengue communication in M’lang and respondents’ level of knowledge on Dengue, perceptions of Dengue and prevention practices towards Dengue. It also considered the intervening influence of respondents’ socio-demographic characteristics and prior exposure to Dengue. In general, the study is consistent with the Health Belief Model’s propositions regarding health communication. The results of the study validated the HBM assumptions that health behavior is determined by the likelihood of performing the specific behavior. Thus, in order to strengthen the likelihood of the respondent one must be convinced that the illness is severe, he or she is susceptible to it, that the benefits of adopting are higher compared to its barriers, and the self-efficacy to adopt is high. The study also inferred that respondents’ exposure to dengue communication in M’lang was moderate. Using the Spearman’s rho Analysis, associations between variables were determined. There were significant relationships between exposure to dengue communication in M’lang, level of knowledge on dengue, perceptions on dengue and prevention practices towards dengue. A Chi-square Test of Independence was employed in the study and revealed that there is a correlation on age, civil status, educational attainment and organizational affiliation with exposure to dengue communication in M’lang, level of knowledge on dengue, perceptions on dengue and prevention practices towards dengue. These results will help future health communicators to develop and then deliver an intervention mix that will respond to the needs of society regarding effective dengue communication.