COMBI Approach as Community-Based Intervention in Dengue Control through Leadership

Aims: To understand the characteristics of the communities that applied Communication for Behavioural Impact (COMBI) approaches actively as compared with other areas where activity levels have waned. More of an understanding of these attributes will inform future COMBI approaches and work towards assuring greater success with dengue prevention and control in the community.

Study Design: Multi centered cross sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Sample: Across Peninsular and East Malaysia between October 2010 and June 2011.

Methodology: A multi centered cross sectional study was conducted from October 2010 to June 2011 across Malaysia. The sites used in this study were two sites in each of six states representing 5 zones in Malaysia that is north, south, east, central zone of Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia were selected based upon their high incidence of dengue fever and implementing of COMBI within the past two years. In depth interview was conducted through semi structured questionnaire. Thematic analysis was used for qualitative evaluation where results were presented in a series of discussions with basic coding framework.

Results: Chairmen and Coordinators understood the description of COMBI, have exposure in COMBI activities as well as other factors to empower community on the activities concerning COMBI. There were few factors deterring to maintain strong leadership such as migration, holding various portfolios, opposing political views and feeling unappreciated thus threatening its sustainability.

Conclusion: In general, strong leadership and commitment are needed to achieve community mobilization in conducting and maintaining sustainability of COMBI activities. The inability of leaders to enforce the committee in carrying out activities causes them to be incapable of initiating the COMBI programme resulting in poor management in reducing dengue outbreak.