Application of mosquito—proof water containers in the reduction of dengue mosquito population in a dengue endemic province of Vietnam

ObjectiveTo evaluate the application of dengue mosquito-proof water containers in the reduction of dengue mosquito population (both adult and larvae) and the acceptance and satisfaction of community in new containers usage.MethodsA community intervention was carried out from July-2008 to October-2009 in Dong Thanh commune, Can Giuoc district, Long An province, Vietnam. A cluster of 100 households that has a relative separate position from surrounding areas were supplied with mosquito-proof water containers, every household with two containers installed under the roof-gutters; and another cluster of households in another hamlet of the same commune used normal water containers. Evaluation of the changes in Aedes aegypti (A. aegypti) population and usage of new water containers were conducted quarterly. Assessment of the acceptance and satisfaction of community was done by the end of the project.ResultsThe number of larvae per concrete tank in the intervention area were lower than those in the control area in most survey rounds with statistic significance in the first, second and fourth surveys (P < 0.05). The number of larvae per new tank were lower than those per jars in the intervention site with statistic significance from the second to fifth surveys (P < 0.01, P < 0.001, P < 0.01 and P < 0.05 respectively). However, with the presence of old containers, vector indices did not change in the intervention area. More than 94 percent households kept their containers tightly covered with two nets and used their new containers by taps in all the survey rounds. Average of times of cleaning new water containers during three months were small, changing from 0.40 to 0.80 times. Number of old jars decreased regularly from means of 5.3 to 2.24 by survey rounds and the number in the fifth suvey were statistically lower than in the second survey (P < 0.001). 100 percent households accepted the new containers and 96 percent households said they had ability to repair a broken nets/tapa or their materials.ConclusionsNew containers prevented the development of A. aegypti mosquitos better than the same normal concrete containers and jars with statistic significance. Most households accepted, satisfied and used new containers in correct way and they could maintain new containers by themselves. However, the continuance of use of old water containers affected on the entomological indices.