Enhancing Health System Preparedness for Dengue Based on an Analysis of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Gaps among Health Care Workers: A Policy Brief

Nejati, Jalil; Okati-Ali Abad, Hassan

doi:10.48307/FMSJ.2026.30.4.475

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Volume 30, Issue 4 (Bimonthly 2026)

Feyz Med Sci J 2026, 30(4): 475-481

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Enhancing Health System Preparedness for Dengue Based on an Analysis of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Gaps among Health Care Workers: A Policy Brief

Jalil Nejati

, Hassan Okati-Ali Abad ^*

Health Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran , okati_h@yahoo.com

Abstract: (345 Views)

Dengue fever is an emerging and growing threat to health security in Iran, and health system preparedness depends on the ability of frontline health care workers to detect the disease, provide education, and initiate an appropriate response. This policy brief, developed based on an assessment of the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of 492 general practitioners, health care providers, and community health workers working in comprehensive health service centers in seven counties of Sistan and Baluchestan Province, presents policy recommendations aimed at improving health system preparedness for dengue fever.
Although the mean attitude score of the participants was acceptable, their mean practice and knowledge scores were reported to be low, particularly in the areas of referral and recognition of warning symptoms. Misconceptions about the routes of transmission and limited awareness of vector surveillance tools were observed. Less than one-third of the participants had received dengue-related training. Staff working in border areas were weaker in recognizing disease symptoms. Knowledge and attitudes were positively and significantly associated with practice.
The policy recommendations for improving health system preparedness for dengue fever include investment in specialized training, practical capacity building, and the establishment of a continuous workforce monitoring system, as the main challenge in this area was related to the knowledge and practice of health system staff. Implementation of the proposed short-, medium-, and long-term actions can significantly strengthen the resilience of the country’s health system.

Keywords: Dengue, Health care professionals, Knowledge, Practice, Policy brief

Full-Text [PDF 571 kb] (14 Downloads)

Type of Study: Applicable | Subject: General
Received: 2025/11/11 | Revised: 2026/10/7 | Accepted: 2026/08/23 | Published: 2026/10/4

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‎ 10.48307/FMSJ.2026.30.4.475

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Nejati J, Okati-Ali Abad H. Enhancing Health System Preparedness for Dengue Based on an Analysis of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Gaps among Health Care Workers: A Policy Brief. Feyz Med Sci J 2026; 30 (4) :475-481
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