| Popis: |
Background: This article describes the development of the theoretical background, methodology and preliminary outcomes of a behaviour-change intervention aimed at preventing the spread of mosquito-borne arboviruses. Objective: To compare perceptions and behaviours, before and after the intervention, between a group of health workers (experts) with a group of college students (learners). Health workers have already learned the target behaviours that every citizen must develop to reduce the mosquito population; college students may or may not grasp these behaviours. Our working hypothesis considers that the intervention should approximate the pattern of students' perceptions, and behaviours to those of health workers.Methods: Using a distance-learning platform adapted for mobile devices, the intervention consisted of tasks that were presented through short videos with people performing the desired target behaviour. To demonstrate the accomplishment of the tasks, participants produced videos and shared these on social networks. A questionnaire was completed before and after the intervention by 58 participants, 31 college students and 27 health workers. Results: Most of the participants were female (83.9% and 72.2% of college students and health workers, respectively); 27.8% of health workers attended higher education and 70.4% were married contrasting with 9.8% of the students. Among college students, a significant difference in the chi-square test was found for all ten target behaviours after the intervention. ANOVA analysis showed that health workers have a higher perception of susceptibility and more fear of acquiring mosquito-borne arboviruses than students do, and there was a correlation between facilitating behaviours with behaviour change. Conclusion: Intervention based on behaviour change theories thus contributed to bring students' behaviour patterns closer to those of health workers. Here we have presented a model for effectuating behaviour change perhaps applicable in other settings. |
