Model to support intervention prioritization for the control of Aedesaegypti in Brazil: a multi-criteria approach

Background Despite continuous strategic investments to mitigate the complexity involving arboviruses control, it is still necessary to further research methods and techniques to achieve in depth knowledge and shorter response times in the application of intervention activities. Consequently, the current work focused its efforts on the development of a multicriteria decision support model for the prioritization of prompt response activities for Aedes aegypti control, based on a case study in the city of Natal/RN. Method The research was carried out in three stages: a) preliminary; b) modelling and choice; and c) finalization; the second stage was made possible by the Flexible and Interactive Tradeoff (FITradeoff) method for ranking problematic. Furthermore, the research encompassed ten actors who were involved in the model construction, eight internal and two external to the Natal Zoonoses Control Center (ZCC-Natal) as well as the observation of four operating scenarios for arboviruses control, based on transmission levels; and, evaluation of eleven alternatives from six different criteria perspectives. Results Rankings of the interventions evaluated in each of the four control operation scenarios present in the city of Natal/RN were obtained, considering technical criteria guided by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Conclusions As a result, it was developed a structured decision-making model that could help decision makers to minimize the effects and risks associated with the proliferation of the vector.