Abstract

Background: Since 1994, Makkah province became a dengue-endemic area with high rate of dengue infection during spring and early summer. The primary-care physician plays a key role in dengue diagnosis, management, and prevention.
Objective: To assess the knowledge and practice of the primary-care physicians in the Ministry of Health regarding the preventive and clinical aspects of dengue fever in Makkah Al-Mokarramah city in 2013. MaterialsandMethods: Across-section analytical study was conductedincluding physiciansworking in selected primary health–care centers in Makkah Al-Mokarramah city. Self-administered validated questionnaire was applied. It comprised three main parts: sociodemographic data, questions to assess knowledge regarding preventive and clinical part of dengue fever, and questions to assess the practice regarding preventive and clinical part of dengue fever.
Results: A response rate of 90.9% was obtained among primary health–care physicians in Makkah. Almost one-third of them (34.8%) were aged 25–30 years and only 8.6% were over 45 years. Physicians in the age group 25–30 years constituted 42.1% of the participants. More than half of them (54.1%) were females. Overall, knowledge regarding dengue feverwasexcellentamong43.4%oftherespondentsandonlyinsufficientamong10.1%.Almostthree-quarters(74.2%)of the physicians always or most of the time performed dengue test if they suspect dengue compared to 16.4% never performeddenguetestforsuspectedcases.Amongthosewhodidnotperformdenguetestandrespondedtothequestion, the most common reported cause was the unavailability of the test at their workplace (82.6%). Almost two-thirds of physicians (61.6%) reported that their center did not provide to the patients any type of preventive methods to avoid mosquito bite. Conclusion: The results of this survey provide a useful opportunity to identify strengths and areas in need of improved knowledge and practice in primary-care management of dengue.