AUTHOR=Bedoya-Rodríguez Francisco Javier , Guevara-Fletcher Carlos Eduardo , Pelegrin Jonathan S. 

TITLE=Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding mosquito-borne diseases in an urban sector of southwestern Colombia

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1682827

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2025.1682827

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=BackgroundMosquito-borne diseases (MBD) continue to represent a critical public health challenge, particularly in tropical regions where environmental and socioeconomic factors facilitate transmission.Methods and materialsThis study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to MBD among 172 residents of an urban area in Santander de Quilichao, Colombia. A structured survey, validated and adapted from the Pan American Health Organization, was performed for data collection.ResultsThe mean knowledge score was 57%, indicating moderate awareness of MBD. While 63.4% of participants reported adequate preventive practices, the majority (94.8%) demonstrated indifferent attitudes toward MBD prevention. Multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed a statistically significant association between marital status and knowledge levels (p < 0.05), with married participants exhibiting higher knowledge. Socioeconomic analysis showed that 41.3% of participants earned the legal minimum wage, and 68.6% of households included at least one woman of childbearing age. Despite moderate knowledge and preventive practices, the prevalence of indifferent attitudes may hinder effective MBD prevention.ConclusionThese findings emphasize the need for targeted community engagement and educational interventions. Incorporating KAP assessments into public health strategies can enhance the design and implementation of effective educational and vector control programs in urban areas of tropical countries.