Community capacity domains of dengue prevention and control

Objective:To explore the meanings and domains for giving communities the capacity to be successful in dengue prevention and control.Methods:One hundred and twenty participants were purposely selected from 4 sub-districts of 4 provinces in Southern Thailand with a high dengue incidence.Sixty community leaders and sixty non-community leaders participated in this study.In-depth interviews(IDIs),as well as focus group discussions (FGDs) with tape-recorders and note-taking,were used to collect data.All records were transcribed verbatim and analyzed by using the Colaizzi method for content analysis.Results:The findings showed that people view the creation of a sustainable dengue community program as possible only with the support of each community in its entirety:"everyone,every sector,all participating,and with continuing activities." Community capacity for dengue prevention and control was dependent on ten domains:1) stakeholder participation, 2) community leadership,3) a core-activities group,4) a problem-solving needs assessment,5) dengue information transfer,6) resource mobilization,7 ) a sense of community for the dengue problem,8) a dengue network partnership,9) critical dengue situation-management,and 10) continuing dengue prevention and control activities.Conclusion:These community capacity domains can be developed into an assessment tool for the community capacity-building process.Community capacity domains require community leaders and non-community leaders to clarify dengue prevention and control assistance required.