{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,6]],"date-time":"2026-05-06T16:17:48Z","timestamp":1778084268824,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":24,"publisher":"American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","issue":"5","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,6]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT.<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>\n                    In February 2025, Tonga\u2019s Minister of Health declared a national dengue fever epidemic, emphasizing the urgent need to raise public awareness and implement preventative measures. In response to this declaration, a study was conducted from March to May 2025 to investigate the sociodemographic determinants affecting dengue fever awareness and preventative behaviors across Tonga\u2019s primary islands: Tongatapu, Ha\u2019apai, and Vava\u2019u. Researchers conducted a survey of 140 randomly selected households, achieving a 93% response rate. The results revealed that although 90% of respondents were aware of dengue fever, 67% had limited knowledge of its transmission and prevention. A multivariable analysis revealed that awareness levels were significantly higher among individuals with at least a secondary education, those who regularly listened to radio broadcasts, and those who classified dengue fever as \u201cvery serious.\u201d Focus group discussions further illuminated community misconceptions about dengue fever symptoms, which were often mistaken for those of respiratory conditions. Participants also expressed concerns about a noticeable decrease in the frequency of health officials\u2019 home visits since the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Community members advocated bolstering local engagement strategies, including the utilization of community radio, village committees, and targeted networks for mothers and youth. These findings underscore the necessity for effective communication strategies, including Tongan\n                    <jats:bold>-<\/jats:bold>\n                    language radio dramas, to enhance community health resilience and encourage sustained preventative practices.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.25-0583","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,17]],"date-time":"2026-03-17T15:12:26Z","timestamp":1773760346000},"page":"956-960","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Rapid Behavioral Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices on Dengue Fever to Inform Risk Communication and Community Engagement Efforts in the Kingdom of Tonga"],"prefix":"10.4269","volume":"114","author":[{"given":"Patelisio P.","family":"Patelisio","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Health Promotion Unit, Ministry of Health, Nuku\u2019alofa, Tonga;"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Seini Toumoua","family":"Fifita","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Tonga National University, Nuku\u2019alofa, Tonga;"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Nanise","family":"Fifita","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Media and Journalism, Tonga National University, Nuku\u2019alofa, Tonga;"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Mele Tilema","family":"Cama","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Tonga National University, Nuku\u2019alofa, Tonga;"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Mohammad","family":"Alamgir","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Social and Behavior Change, UNICEF Pacific, Suva, Fiji"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Johary","family":"Randimbivololona","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Social and Behavior Change, UNICEF Pacific, Suva, Fiji"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"2795","reference":[{"key":"b1","article-title":"Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) Surveys: Planning Guide. Geneva: World Health Organization","year":"2022"},{"key":"b2","series-title":"Health Educ Monogr","first-page":"328","article-title":"Historical origins of the Health Belief Model","volume":"2","author":"Rosenstock","year":"1974"},{"key":"b3","article-title":"WHO Disease Outbreak News \u2014 Dengue: Global Situation.","year":"2024"},{"key":"b4","article-title":"How Tonga and WHO Are Joining Forces to Strengthen the Response to Dengue Outbreaks.","year":"2025"},{"key":"b5","article-title":"Dengue Epidemiological Bulletin.","year":"2025"},{"key":"b6","series-title":"Lancet Reg Health West Pac","first-page":"100518","article-title":"Strengthening regional strategies for dengue control in the Pacific","volume":"24","author":"Kessaram","year":"2022"},{"key":"b7","series-title":"Health Serv Res","first-page":"203","article-title":"Achieving integration in mixed methods designs\u2014Principles and practices","volume":"58","author":"Fetters","year":"2023"},{"key":"b8","article-title":"Tonga Census of Population and Housing 2021.","year":"2022"},{"key":"b9","series-title":"Organ Behav Hum Decis Process","first-page":"179","article-title":"The theory of planned behavior","volume":"50","author":"Ajzen","year":"1991"},{"key":"b10","series-title":"Health Educ Q","first-page":"351","article-title":"An ecological perspective on health promotion programs","volume":"15","author":"McLeroy","year":"1988"},{"key":"b11","series-title":"Health Behavior and Health Education: Theory, Research, and Practice, 4th ed","author":"Glanz","year":"2008"},{"key":"b12","article-title":"Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) in Health Emergencies: Guidance.","year":"2017"},{"key":"b1","article-title":"Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) Surveys: Planning Guide. 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