The Effectiveness of Mosquito Larva Monitoring Calendar on Knowledge, Dengue Fever Risk Behavior, and Mosquito Larva Density Rates in Malang, Indonesia

The neglected efforts of mosquito larvae observers (typically health cadres and known as Jumantik) require innovative solutions, one of which is the self-monitoring approach with the mosquito larva monitoring calendar (MLMC). This study aimed to test the effectiveness of MLMC in enhancing knowledge, reducing dengue fever (DF) risk behavior, and lowering larva densities.

A 4-month quasi-experiment was designed to evaluate the use of MLMC. The experimental group implemented MLMC, while the control group implemented the government’s basic program. Both groups were allocated randomly. Baseline and follow-up surveys in experimental and control groups were conducted, each comprising a village and housing estate. As the data was not normally distributed, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to assess within-group changes, while the Student’s t-test or Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare two groups. Spearman’s test examined the relationship between MLMC utility and knowledge.

Compared to control groups, there were improvements in DF risk behaviors for experimental, such as hanging clothes (p=0.008 vsp=0.130), closing the trash (p=0.027 vsp=0.004), and using mosquito nets (p< 0.001 vsp<0.001). In the follow-up survey, the MLMC received positive feedback, correlating with increased knowledge (r=0.240, p=0.006). There was no decrease in the existence of the larval stage in either the experimental or control groups (p=1.00 vsp=0.446). The control group showed reduced positive larva (p<0.001), possibly due to higher education and history of DF although not significant.

MLMC can reducereduce DF risk behavior, increase knowledge, and decrease mosquito larval density, contingent upon sustained compliance, assisted by Jumantik.