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Fulltext The Effect of Community-Based Intervention on Dengue Awareness and Prevention Among Poor Urban Communities in Delhi, India

Lachyan A, Zaki RA, Banerjee B, Aghamohammadi N

J Res Health Sci, 2023 Dec 29;23(4):e00596.
PMID: 38315911 DOI: 10.34172/jrhs.2023.131

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of a dengue intervention program in economically deprived urban regions of India, with a particular emphasis on housing conditions and community involvement. Given the global significance of dengue fever as a vector-borne disease, successful vector management requires effective community engagement. Study Design: A quasi-experimental study.
METHODS: This study was conducted with 314 participants from Delhi's Sanjay Colony, divided into control and intervention groups. The study spanned 14 months (August 2020 to September 2021). The intervention program comprised two educational sessions held one month apart, covering dengue awareness, health self-care, and environmental maintenance. Data were collected at baseline, after each intervention session, and during a final follow-up assessment three months later.
RESULTS: The primary outcome, the house index (HI), revealed statistically significant differences (P<0.001) favoring the intervention group. The total score (TS) for mosquito-borne disease, TS of knowledge, TS of attitude, and TS of practices all exhibited significant improvements in the intervention group. Participants showed an enhanced understanding of dengue causes, symptoms, and mosquito behavior related to breeding and biting. The HI in the intervention group decreased significantly from 21.65% to 4.45% (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION: This study, grounded in the health belief model (HBM), demonstrated the effectiveness of the intervention program in reducing HI and improving knowledge and preventive practices regarding dengue fever in impoverished urban neighborhoods of Delhi. The intervention program may be beneficial in such a poor urban community.
Fulltext Knowledge, experience, and willingness to vaccinate against intestinal parasitic infections: A multi-country study in Asia

Wong LP, Lee HY, Alias H, Lachyan A, Nguyen DK, Seheli FN, et al.

J Infect Public Health, 2025 Apr;18(4):102689.
PMID: 39946975 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102689

BACKGROUND: Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) remain a significant public health challenge and a neglected disease in many parts of Asia, contributing to morbidity and mortality, particularly in vulnerable populations. Despite the potential of vaccines to reduce the burden of these neglected IPIs, little is known about the public's willingness to be vaccinated against these infections.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the general population's knowledge, symptom experiences, and willingness to vaccinate against IPIs across six countries: Malaysia, Vietnam, India, Pakistan, and China.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between June and December 2023 across six countries in Asia region. Participants completed a self-administered online questionnaire that assessed demographic information, knowledge of IPIs, symptom experiences, and willingness to receive a vaccine against IPIs for themselves and their children. Univariate and multivariable logistic analyses were performed to determine the factors related to vaccination the willingness.
RESULTS: A total of 5470 complete responses were received. The highest proportion of individuals willing to receive the vaccine was in India (86.1 %), followed by China (80.8 %) and Pakistan (75 %), with Vietnam having the lowest proportion at 50.1 %. For child vaccination, China had the highest willingness (83.3 %). A higher knowledge score was significantly associated with increased willingness to be vaccinated [adjusted odds ratio (aOR)= 1.91, 95 % CI: 1.70-2.15]. Additionally, a higher symptom experience score was significantly associated with greater vaccination willingness (aOR=1.71, 95 % CI: 1.50-1.94). Females residing in urban-suburban areas showed significantly higher vaccination intentions. The willingness to vaccinate children against IPIs closely mirrored the trends observed in self-vaccination willingness, with knowledge being the only factor significantly associated with the willingness to vaccinate children.
CONCLUSION: The study underscores the importance of enhancing educational efforts regarding neglected IPIs and vaccination, particularly when vaccines are available and recommended.
Fulltext Attitudes and acceptance of vaccination against neglected tropical diseases: A multi-country study in Asia

Wong LP, Lee HY, Alias H, Seheli FN, Lachyan A, Nguyen DK, et al.

Hum Vaccin Immunother, 2025 Dec;21(1):2471702.
PMID: 40050267 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2025.2471702

This study aims to explore the willingness of individuals to be vaccinated against NTDs in Asian countries and China. Between June and December 2023, an anonymous cross-sectional survey was carried out in five Asian countries alongside China. Overall, 48.4% indicated being somewhat willing and 29.2% expressing extreme willingness to receive NTDs vaccination. High attitude scores (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.54, 95% confidence interval (CI): 11.35-1.75) was associated with higher willingness to be vaccinated against NTDs. The odds of accepting the NTDs vaccine increased among individuals without occupational exposure to NTDs (aOR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.27-1.68). Those residing in very clean environments exhibited heightened odds of willingness (aOR = 2.94, 95% CI: 2.10-4.11), whereas individuals in somewhat dirty environments demonstrated reduced odds of willingness (aOR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.56-0.98) compared to the baseline group (very dirty local environment). Moreover, a higher score in sanitation facilities also correlated with increased odds of willingness to receive the NTDs vaccine (aOR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.21-1.64). The study highlighted key strategies for improving NTDs vaccine uptake in Asian countries, including China, such as fostering positive attitudes toward the vaccine and enhancing perception of infection risks.
COVID-19 vaccination intention and vaccine characteristics influencing vaccination acceptance: a global survey of 17 countries

Wong LP, Alias H, Danaee M, Ahmed J, Lachyan A, Cai CZ, et al.

Infect Dis Poverty, 2021 Oct 07;10(1):122.
PMID: 34620243 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-021-00900-w

BACKGROUND: The availability of various types of COVID-19 vaccines and diverse characteristics of the vaccines present a dilemma in vaccination choices, which may result in individuals refusing a particular COVID-19 vaccine offered, hence presenting a threat to immunisation coverage and reaching herd immunity. The study aimed to assess global COVID-19 vaccination intention, vaccine characteristics influencing vaccination acceptance and desirable vaccine characteristics influencing the choice of vaccines.
METHODS: An anonymous cross-sectional survey was conducted between 4 January and 5 March 2021 in 17 countries worldwide. Proportions and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and vaccine characteristics influencing vaccination acceptance were generated and compared across countries and regions. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.
RESULTS: Of the 19,714 responses received, 90.4% (95% CI 81.8-95.3) reported likely or extremely likely to receive COVID-19 vaccine. A high proportion of likely or extremely likely to receive the COVID-19 vaccine was reported in Australia (96.4%), China (95.3%) and Norway (95.3%), while a high proportion reported being unlikely or extremely unlikely to receive the vaccine in Japan (34.6%), the U.S. (29.4%) and Iran (27.9%). Males, those with a lower educational level and those of older age expressed a higher level of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Less than two-thirds (59.7%; 95% CI 58.4-61.0) reported only being willing to accept a vaccine with an effectiveness of more than 90%, and 74.5% (95% CI 73.4-75.5) said they would accept a COVID-19 vaccine with minor adverse reactions. A total of 21.0% (95% CI 20.0-22.0) reported not accepting an mRNA vaccine and 51.8% (95% CI 50.3-53.1) reported that they would only accept a COVID-19 vaccine from a specific country-of-origin. Countries from the Southeast Asia region reported the highest proportion of not accepting mRNA technology. The highest proportion from Europe and the Americas would only accept a vaccine produced by certain countries. The foremost important vaccine characteristic influencing vaccine choice is adverse reactions (40.6%; 95% CI 39.3-41.9) of a vaccine and effectiveness threshold (35.1%; 95% CI 33.9-36.4).
CONCLUSIONS: The inter-regional and individual country disparities in COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy highlight the importance of designing an efficient plan for the delivery of interventions dynamically tailored to the local population.