Effects of Single Session Educational Training in Dengue Awareness among Female Community Health Volunteers of Pokhara Metropolitan Kaski, Nepal

Introduction: Dengue fever remains a critical public health concern in Nepal, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas such as Pokhara Metropolitan, where incidence rates have increased significantly in recent years. Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) play a vital role in health education and community-based disease prevention; however, structured training programs focused on dengue prevention are lacking. This study assessed the effectiveness of an educational intervention based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) in improving dengue-related knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs among FCHVs. Methodology: An intervention with a compare group design was employed, involving 154 FCHVs from six wards of Pokhara Metropolitan. Three wards were randomly assigned to the intervention group and three to the control group. The intervention consisted of a single three-hour training session incorporating a mini-lecture, group discussion, and distribution of educational booklets. Knowledge, attitudes, and HBM constructs perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, and self-efficacy were measured at baseline and six weeks post-intervention using structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed using (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) SPSS version 22, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: The intervention group demonstrated significant improvements in knowledge (median increased from 22 to 30; p < 0.001, effect size = 0.793), attitudes (median increased from 24 to 26.5; p < 0.001), and key HBM constructs, including perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits, and self-efficacy. Although between-group differences in perceived barriers were significant at the end line (p < 0.001), within-group changes were modest. No significant improvement was observed in perceived severity, likely due to high baseline awareness levels among participants. Conclusion: The findings indicate that a brief, theory-driven educational intervention can significantly enhance FCHVs’ knowledge, attitudes, and health beliefs related to dengue prevention. This supports the potential for scalable, low-cost training programs within Nepal’s existing FCHV framework to strengthen community-based dengue control efforts.