Prevention and prevalence of dengue infection in rural populations: a community-based approach

Abstract

Dengue is a viral disease transmitted mainly by Aedes mosquitoes and represents an increasing public health problem in tropical and subtropical regions. Rural populations face particular risks related to household water storage, inadequate sanitation, improper waste disposal, climatic variability, and barriers to access to health services. The objective of this study was to analyze, from an epidemiological and community-based perspective, the main strategies for preventing dengue infection in rural populations, with emphasis on the Ecuadorian and Manabí contexts. A structured narrative review was conducted using scientific literature and technical documents published mainly between 2015 and 2026, through searches in PubMed, SciELO, international health agencies, and national academic repositories. The reviewed evidence indicates that the most consistent interventions combine epidemiological and entomological surveillance, systematic elimination of breeding sites, safe management of household water-storage containers, communication for behavioral change, and sustained community participation. Experimental and community-based studies demonstrate relevant reductions in entomological indices and, in some settings, in symptomatic dengue infection. In Ecuador, experiences from Machala and recent studies from Manabí support the adaptation of eco-bio-social strategies to local conditions. It is concluded that rural prevention should move beyond exclusively reactive approaches and integrate household, community, environmental, and health-system actions, together with surveillance of climate-related risks and active participation of local stakeholders.