Effect of Health Education on Knowledge and Management of Arboviral Diseases in Kenya

Abstract

Globally, arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus) infections continue to pose substantial threats to public health and economic development, especially in developing countries. In Kenya, although arboviral diseases (ADs) are largely endemic, little is known about the factors influencing livestock farmers’ knowledge, beliefs, and management (KBM) as well as the effect of health education of the three major ADs: Rift Valley fever (RVF), dengue fever and chikungunya fever. This study evaluated the effect of health education training on farmers knowledge, beliefs, and management (KBM) of three endemic ADs in Kenya from a sample of 629 respondents selected using a three-stage sampling procedure in Kenya’s three AD hotspot counties of Baringo, Kwale, and Kilifi. The study pursued three objectives. First, it evaluated the intensity of livestock farmers’ KBM using a multivariate fractional probit model. Second a Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM) was employed to evaluate the effect of farmers risk perceptions on their health behaviour. Finally, a difference in difference method was used to assess the effect of health education training on farmers knowledge and management of ADs. Only a quarter of the farmers had any knowledge of ADs while over four-fifths of them could not manage any of the three diseases. Access to information (experience and awareness), income, education, religion, and distance to a health facility considerably influenced the intensity of farmers’ KBM of ADs in Kenya. The findings indicate that risk perceptions had a positive and significant influence on the household health behaviour towards Rift Valley Fever (RVF) but negative effect on chikungunya and dengue fevers’ health behaviour. Bootstrapping analysis to test for moderation was significant for both direct and indirect effects. The health education intervention significantly improved households’ understanding of ADs transmission modes, causes, and prevention strategies. However, this intervention did not sufficiently influence households’ disease management behaviours. The study therefore recommends the implementation of community engagement and outreach initiatives in order to drive household behavioural change disease on vector control, which will ultimately enhance the management of ADs in Kenya. Keywords: Health Education, Arboviral Diseases, Knowledge, Beliefs, Management