Current World Environment Vol. 10(3), 747-757 (2015) Knowledge, Attitudes and Preventive Practices of Dengue Fever among Secondary School Students in Jazan, Saudi Arabia A.A. BINSAEED 1 , A.A. SAHLI 2 , E.M. NOURELDIN 3 , W.S. MOHAMMED 3 , O.M DAFALLA 3 , A. DAHLAN 4 , O.H. KASULE 5 and ALSHEIKH A. A 3 1 Minister Deputy for public health, MoH-Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 2 General Directorate for health Affairs, MoH –Jazan. Saudi Arabia. 3 National Center for Vector-Borne Diseases, MoH –Jazan, B.O. Box 363 Jazan- 45142, Saudi Arabia. 4 Department of Infectious Diseases and Vector Control, MoH–Jazan, Saudi Arabia. 5 King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh – KSA. *Corresponding author email: siddignoureldin@hotmail.com http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CWE.10.3.04 (Received: September 14, 2015; Accepted: November 10, 2015) ABSTRACT Dengue fever (DF) is the most rapidly spreading mosquito-borne viral disease worldwide. Several confirmed dengue cases occurred in Jazan region in the last decade. Current study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes and preventive practices of dengue fever among students of secondary schools in Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among students of six secondary schools in Jazan. Multistage stratified random sample method was used and seven hundred forty two (742) were taken as respondents in study. We collected information on the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents about their knowledge, attitude and practice towards DF using a prestructured and self administered questionnaire. findings illustrate a poor DF knowledge among the secondary school students in Jazan. As to attitudes towards DF prevention and control, the majority of the respondents were having good attitudes and believed that DF could be controlled and prevented (93.2%), DF control is the responsibility of government and community (83.1%) and they themselves have an important role to play in DF prevention (78.5%). The most common practice to prevent mosquito breeding were found to be the disposing of water from breeding containers (85.5%) and covering of water containers (68.6%). A significant association between the practice of DF preventive and control measures and the gender of the respondents was found (P<0.005).The top two common sources of DF knowledge were identified as primary health care centers and television (48.1% and 44.5%, respectively), Low prevalence of sufficient knowledge was evident among secondary school students in Jazan. Government authorities should strengthen its programs on massive educational campaigns to increase awareness and knowledge regarding dengue and preventive measures to reduce mosquito and prevent dengue. Knowledge of dengue epidemiology may be incorporated into the school curriculum. Key words: Dengue fever, Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices, Schools, Jazan, Saudi Arabia. INTRODUCTION Dengue is a viral disease transmitted to humans by the bite of infected females of the main vector Aedes aegypti and to lesser extent Aedes albopictus mosquitoes 1 The World Health Organization has classified dengue into three categories according to disease severity; Dengue Fever (DF), Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF), and Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS) 2 Severe dengue (DHF and DSS) causes lethal complications that included severe hemorrhage, plasma leakage, organ impairment, fluid accumulation, or respiratory distress 3, 4 The four genetically related viruses that cause dengue are single-stranded RNA, belonging to the Flaviviridae family and genus Flavivirus 5 These