Dengue Fever (DF) is a serious disease in Indonesia. The sustainability of a DF prevention program remains constrained despite continuing education programs and community participation efforts. Identifying the issues related to the cause of the disease is a major factor in its control. In this study we try to understand the complexity of the management of the disease.
We apply an eco-health approach to explore DF management in Bandung city, West Java, an area of high DF incidence. A qualitative study was conducted using unstructured interviews and focus group discussions with cadres and community leaders directly involved in DF management. The verbatim data were transcribed and analyzed using NVivo software.
Four major themes emerged: Prevention and control, community participation, housing and surroundings and weather. They were illustrated as a model. In more detail, sub-themes emerged and were interrelated with the basic model. We synthesized the results into six key principles based on process or purpose. Process principles were systems thinking, interdisciplinary or trans disciplinary research and participation. Purpose principles were sustainability, gender equality and social status and knowledge translation. The principles were expanded in a table to indicate how the overall findings related to the principles.
We concluded that system thinking, and interdisciplinary research facilitates optimal management related to the connections the DF program has with systems external to health. Translating research results into an sunderstandable form for stakeholders, encourages community participation and understanding of DF. Finally, program sustainability requires the involvement of the complete community regardless of gender and social status.