Cross-sectional study on the association between seroprevalence among children and their parents' knowledge, attitudes, and practices in a dengue-endemic city in Bangladesh

Introduction

Bangladesh is experiencing a drastic increase in dengue infections since 2019, with a record number of cases exceeding 300,000 in 2023 and 102,082 cases in 2025. Control of dengue, spread by Aedes mosquitoes, requires an in-depth understanding of knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding prevention strategies and their association with the risk of infection. This association has been rarely examined in adults and even more rarely in relation to the risk of infection in children. This study aimed to investigate the association between parents' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) and children's dengue seropositivity in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in four neighborhoods of Dhaka in November and December 2023. A total of 297 parents and 412 children aged 2-12 years participated in the study. Parents completed a questionnaire that collected data on their previous dengue experiences, sociodemographic characteristics, social capital, and knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to dengue. Children's capillary blood samples were collected via finger prick and tested for IgM and IgG dengue antibodies. The relative risk (RR) of dengue seropositivity was estimated using a modified Poisson regression model with robust error variance.