INTRODUCTION:

Dengue is "A disease of many tropic and subtropic regions that can occur epidemically; caused by dengue virus, a member of the family Flaviviridae (Medilexicon's medical dictionary.)

A virus that is spread by mosquitoes, dengue fever is extremely contagious. In recent decades, the prevalence of diseases spread by mosquitoes has increased. The World Health Organization states that dengue virus infection is a growing global health concern due to rising rates of death and morbidity. It is widespread in more than 100 countries at the moment. Usually, three to fourteen days after infection, dengue symptoms appear. This could include a high fever, headache, nausea, joint and muscular pain, and a recognizable rash. In most cases, recovery takes less than two to seven days. In a small proportion of cases, the disease develops into the life-threatening dengue haemorrhagic fever, resulting in bleeding, low levels of blood platelets and blood plasma leakage, or into dengue shock syndrome, where dangerously low blood pressure occurs. Dengue is spread by several species of mosquito of the Aedestype, principally A. aegypti. The virus has five different types; infection with one type usually gives lifelong immunity to that type, but only short-term immunity to the others. Subsequent infection with a different type increases the risk of severe complications. A number of tests are available to confirm the diagnosis including detecting antibodies to the virus or its RNA.¹

India's dengue epidemiology will help us better understand how the disease has changed over the past 50 years and aid in the creation of efficient local prevention and control strategies. Early reports of outbreaks revealed a typical epidemic pattern of transmission, with low to moderate numbers of cases, typically concentrated in metropolitan areas and nearby regions, but occasionally spreading and leading to bigger epidemics. Larger and more frequent outbreaks, the geographic spread of endemic transmission, the disease's migration from urban to peri-urban and rural areas, a rise in the percentage of severe cases and fatalities, and the development of hyperendemicity, especially in large urban areas, are some of the trends observed in recent decades. Eliminating mosquito habitat and minimizing exposure to bites are the two ways to prevent them. This can be achieved by wearing clothing that covers a large portion of the body and by eliminating or covering standing water. Not long after the disease was identified and given a name in 1779, the first known dengue epidemics happened practically concurrently in Asia, Africa, and North America in the 1780s. By 1975, DHF was the top cause of death for children in Southeast Asia, where a pandemic had started in the 1950s." Around 1953–1954, the first DHF case was documented in Manila, Philippines. Since the 1980s, epidemic dengue has increased in prevalence. About 40 million cases of dengue fever and several hundred thousand cases of dengue were reported by the late 1990s, making dengue the most significant mosquito-borne disease impacting people after malaria.²

Hemorrhagic fever typically occurs when a person who has already contracted a specific dengue serotype contracts another serotype. It is believed that this illness is caused by a cross-reaction between antibodies and dengue antigens. Patients may experience severe dengue shock syndrome, which is characterized by abrupt worsening, hypothermia, and circulatory shock. When left untreated or improperly managed, this illness has a 40–50% death rate. The case fatality rate can drop to 5% or less with the right care. More than 100 million cases of dengue occur annually around the world, with 2000–3000 of those cases—mostly in children—resulting in mortality. Supportive treatment is the mainstay of dengue fever treatment. A lot of focus is on control and prevention methods because there is no vaccination to guard against this disease. Mosquitoes that spread dengue thrive in tropical regions like Jamaica because of their favorable climate. Dengue infection rates are therefore correlated with seasonal changes in rainfall and temperature. Hotter temperatures and higher rainfall are linked to an increase in dengue cases. Since dengue is a vector-borne illness, many early efforts to control it focused on using pesticides to eradicate the vector. Nevertheless, insect resistance and the expense of staffing to keep up the programs make chemical vector control schemes impractical.³

According to the WHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there should be less reliance on insecticidal control and more focus on community education initiatives that highlight locals' accountability for minimizing vector breeding grounds. Previous studies have demonstrated that community education can be more successful than insecticides alone in eliminating dengue vector breeding places, which lends credence to this viewpoint.⁴

There were record dengue outbreaks in the Philippines in Q1 2011, with 18,885 cases and 115 fatalities, about 5% more than the previous year. Up until April 16, 2011, there were about 56,882 cases and 39 fatalities in Brazil and 27,000 cases and 31 fatalities in Paraguay. Many outbreaks were first documented in the Island of Madeira in 2012. Between January and October 16, 2012, 52,008 cases of dengue fever were reported in Thailand, resulting in 50 fatalities in several countries, including Brazil (twice the number of deaths in 2012), Singapore, and Thailand (worst in 20 years). After increasing from 2013 to 2012, dengue mortality in Malaysia increased until February 2014. Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines in early 2014, generating torrential rains and stagnant waters. The tropical areas have been constantly monitored since mosquitoes breed there and spread disease. In 2015 The endemic extent, mortality, and caseloads of the outbreaks in Taiwan have all reached record heights, with a staggering 2 million symptomatic cases reported in the Americas. The outbreaks have spread to almost every tropical region. In tropical and subtropical Asia, almost every country recorded sharp rises. Massive releases of sterilized mosquitoes have caused China's caseload to drop to less than a tenth of what it was the previous year, with one exception.⁵

In regions where dengue is endemic, an estimated 2.5 billion people reside. About 500,000 cases of DF/DHF/DSS necessitate hospitalization, and there are between 50 and 100 million cases of DF/DHF annually. About 5% of people die from DHF. India saw its first DF outbreak in 1812, and in 1963, Calcutta reported the country's first pandemic of severe and deadly DHF/DSS. Epidemics have been reported from all around the nation since then. In addition to Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Vellore, Delhi has seen three epidemics in the past ten years.⁶

METHODOLOGY:

The study of how to collect and arrange data is referred to as research methodology. The creation, verification, and assessment of research instruments or methodologies are the focus of methodology studies. For this study, a single group pre-test and post-test design was used as the research design. A certain Senior Secondary School was chosen to perform the investigation. From the Senior Secondary School in Punjab, 50 pupils were chosen using a straightforward sampling technique. Based on the study, the tool was created. Students in the 9th standard are measured using a sociodemographic profile. Students' knowledge of dengue fever was evaluated using a structured knowledge questionnaire. Dengue fever theory, global distribution, risk factors and groups, clinical characteristics, laboratory diagnosis, hospitalization, prevention and control strategies, and treatment were all included in the structured training program that was created.

10 nursing professionals were provided the blueprint, instrument, and criterion structured knowledge quiz. Nonetheless, the instrument was altered in accordance with expert suggestions and recommendations. The split half approach was used to calculate the structure knowledge questionnaire's reliability (internal consistency). The tool's reliability was 0.9. Before any data was collected, permission was obtained from the Senior Secondary School principal. Consent was acquired, and individuals' responses and confidentiality were guaranteed.

SECTION – A

Analysis of sample characteristics:

Table 1.1 Frequency and percentage distribution of sample characteristics. N=50

Socio-demographic variables

Frequency

Age (in yr)

a)13-14

b)15-16

52%

48%

Gender: -

a) Male

b) Female

50%

Residence: -

Rural

100%

Source of previous knowledge: Books

Newspaper

Health personnel’s

TV and Other

12%

52%

32%

RESULT:

Table -1.1 shows the subject distribution according to their sample characteristics. The more than half of subjects i.e.52% were aged i.e.13-14. Years where as 48% was in age group of 15-16 years. Equivalent number of subjects were male and females. All the subjects were from rural area, majority of subject had the previous source of knowledge i.e. 52% from newspaper,32% subject were heard about the dengue from TV where as other sources of knowledge were books (12%) and health personnel’s (4%).

SECTION -B

Structured teaching programme regarding dengue fever:

Table 1.2 Pre-test frequency and percentage distribution of students according to their level of knowledge regarding dengue fever: N=50

Level	Scores	Frequency	Percentage
Excellent	Above 20	1	2%
Good	16-20	15	30%
Average	11-15	22	44%
Below average	0-10	12	24%

Maximum score=22

Minimum= 0

Table -1.2 depicts that majority of students (44%) had average knowledge score followed by 30% of students had good knowledge score regarding dengue.24% subjects were having below average knowledge score and 2% had excellent knowledge score. Hence it concluded that majority of students had average knowledge regarding dengue fever.

SECTION - C

Table 1.3 Posttest Frequency and percentage distribution of students according to their level of knowledge regarding dengue fever: N=50

Level	Scores	Frequency	%
Excellent	Above 20	18	36%
Good	16-20	19	38%
Average	11-15	9	18%
Below average	0-10	4	8%

Maximum score=19

Minimum= 0

Table -1.3 depicts that majority of students (38%) had good posttest knowledge score followed by 36%% of students had excellent posttest knowledge score.18% subjects were having average knowledge post test score and 8% of subjects had below average posttest knowledge score Hence it is concluded that majority of students had good knowledge regarding dengue fever.

Table 1.4: Mean, Median, standard deviation or mean difference of pre-test and post-test knowledge scores.

N=50

Test	Mean	Median	SD	Mean difference
Pre-test	12.16	25.2	1.6	1.1
Post-test	17.9	25.2	2.7	1.1

SECTION –D

Table: 1.5; Mean, median, standard deviation, mean difference and t-value of pre-test and post-test knowledge scores. N=50

Test	Mean	SD	Mean difference	t-test	table-value	Level of significance
Pre-test	12.16	1.6	1.3	4.0	1.684	>0.05%
Post-test	17.9	2.7

Table No 1.6-Association of knowledge related to dengue fever with selected demographic variables: N=50

Sr. No

Variables

Level of knowledge

Chi-square value

d.f

Table value (p)

Level of significance

Above mean

Below mean

Age

a) 13-14

b)15-16

0.080

3.84

Gender

a) Male

b) Female

0.728

3.84

Source of information

a) Books

b) Newspaper

c) Health personnel’s

d)TV and Other

19.9

7.81*

Table:1.4 shows the mean pre-test and post-test knowledge score of students on dengue fever. Findings shows the increase in knowledge of students (12.16±1.6 vs 17.9± 2.7).

Table 1.5 reveals that there is significant difference in mean pre-test and mean post-test knowledge scores of the subjects at 0.05% level of significance.

Table 1.6 shows that there is significant relation between the source of previous knowledge and level of knowledge whereas with other demographical variables there is no significant association of knowledge.

CONCLUSION:

In conclusion, addressing dengue fever requires a multifaceted approach involving public health initiatives, mosquito control, community participation, and advancing research in treatment and vaccine development. Increased awareness and global cooperation are crucial to reducing the disease's impact, especially in vulnerable populations. The Assessment of level of knowledge before and after Structured Teaching Programme shows that there is increase in level of knowledge of selected senior secondary school.

REFERANCES:

1. Saxena Prakash Ravi. Text book of Community Health Nursing-II, First Edition-2012, Published by:- Lotus Publisher, Page No-312.

2. Park . K. Text book of preventive and social Medicine. Edition-22, Published by Banarsidas Bhanot Page No.-224.

3. Chakravarti A, Arora R, Luxemburger C. Fifty years of dengue in India. Maulana Azad Medical College, Bahadur Shah ZafarMarg, New Delhi, Delhi, 10002, India.

4. Gubler DJ. Dengue/ dengue haemorrhagic fever: history and current status. Asia-Pacific Institute of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, USA.

5. Centre for disease control and prevention,Dengue hemorrhagic fever-U.S-Mexico border 2005. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2007; 56(31): 785-9.

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Received on 31.03.2025 Revised on 10.05.2025

Accepted on 11.06.2025 Published on 16.08.2025

Available online from August 25, 2025

Int. J. Nursing Education and Research. 2025;13(3):161-164.

DOI: 10.52711/2454-2660.2025.00034

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Creative Commons License.