Children's Potential as Mosquito Flick Monitors through Optimizing Knowledge and Behavior towards Mosquito Breeding Sites

Abstract

Background: Efforts to control the spread of mosquito-borne diseases involve identifying mosquito breeding sites. Typically, identifying the presence of these breeding sites is done by adults, but children also have the potential to be good larvae monitors, so their ability to identify mosquito breeding sites needs to be optimized. Objective: To identify the knowledge and behavior of young larvae monitors regarding mosquitoes and their breeding sites, as well as to evaluate their ability to identify mosquito breeding sites. Method: A cross-sectional study conducted in Naena Muktipura Village, Timika. The study population consisted of children aged 7-15 years. Analysis was performed using paired sample t-tests. Results: There was no difference in the knowledge or behavior of young larvae monitors (p>0.05) regarding various mosquitoes and their breeding sites, although there was an increase in both knowledge and behavior mean scores. The types of positive larval containers found were bathtub, buckets, used cans, flower pots, and excavated pits. The types of mosquito larvae identified were Anopheles sp, Aedes sp, and Culex sp. Conclusion: There was an increase in knowledge and behavior regarding mosquitoes and various breeding sites, and young larvae monitors were also able to find a variety of breeding sites.