984 J Med Assoc Thai Vol. 96 No. 8 2013 J Med Assoc Thai 2013; 96 (8): 984-91 Full text. e-Journal: http://jmat.mat.or.th Correspondence to: Assantachai P, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Pa-Ob Building, Floor 1, 2 Wanglang Road, Bangkoknoi, Bangkok 10700, Thailand. Phone: 0-2419-7284 E-mail: prasert.uts@mahidol.ac.th Factors Associated with Dengue Prevention and Control in Two Villages in a Central Thai Province: A Retrospective Review Smathorn Thakolwiboon # *, Nattorn Benjatikul # *, Kanchalika Sathianvichitr # *, Kawintra Prapathrangsee # *, Taniya Tienmontri # *, Wirote Ratanaamonsakul MD**, Prasert Assantachai MD*, Mayuree Homsanit MD* # Medical student * Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand ** Thaluang District Hospital, Lopburi, Thailand Objective: To study the factors associated with dengue prevention and control in Moo 6 (the 6th village) and Moo 7 of Tambon Kaeng-phak-kut, Thaluang District, Lopburi Province. Material and Method: The authors reviewed the raw data collected by public health officers and village health volunteers (VHVs) as their routine tasks. The authors analyzed the data, 30 dwellings per each village, to compare the demographics, knowledge, attitude, and practice of subjects from Moo 6, a dengue-outbreak community, with that from Moo 7, a control group, as well as larval indices between these 2 studied groups. The present retrospective study is approved by Siriraj Institutional Review Board, Certificate of Approval No. Si393/2012. Results: Both groups of subjects had no statistically significant difference in basic dengue knowledge (p = 0.862), attitude towards dengue prevention and control, practical knowledge (p = 0.457), and actual practice to eliminate Aedes larvae and prevent it laying eggs, except for the practice of managing water container in bathroom or toilet (p = 0.015). On the other hand, dengue incidence and larval indices of both villages were apparently different. Conclusion: Although incorrect basic dengue and practical knowledge of subjects from both villages were similar, dengue outbreak in Moo 6 of Tambon Kaeng-phak-kut was superior. It may be due to difference in actual practice on larval elimination in water container in bathroom or toilet as well as other factors other than personal factors such as public services, public places, and community surroundings. Keywords: Dengue prevention and control, Factors, Community, Thailand Dengue hemorrhagic fever is an important public health problem in tropical regions and nowadays is escalating to be an international concern. The 20% dengue mortality rate could be reduced to less than 1% by proper management (1) . Dengue patients need close follow-up. Therefore, it reduces patients’ time, money, and quality of life. In addition, a number of patients ignore their early flu-like symptoms and do not seek medical care. In the last two to three years, dengue incidence in Thaluang, Lopburi, located in central region of Thailand, has increased continuously (Fig. 1) until it exceeded the dengue control goal in the “Healthy Thailand 2010” project set by Thai Ministry of Public Health. The goal to control dengue incidence is to be not more than 50 patients per 100,000 people per year. Fig. 1 Dengue incidences in Thaluang District, Lopburi Province.