Public communication by mosquito control programs
2024

Public Communication and Outreach by Mosquito Control Programs in the United States

Sample size: 39 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Thomas Nicole, Balanay Jo Anne G., Shearman Sachiyo, Richards Stephanie L.

Primary Institution: East Carolina University

Hypothesis

How do mosquito control programs communicate with the public about mosquito-borne diseases?

Conclusion

Most mosquito control programs have dedicated personnel for public communication, but improvements in outreach strategies are needed.

Supporting Evidence

  • 69% of mosquito control programs have dedicated personnel for public communication.
  • Most respondents indicated a high emphasis on information sharing about mosquito-borne diseases.
  • 34% of respondents had funding dedicated to public communication efforts.

Takeaway

This study looked at how mosquito control programs talk to people about mosquito-related diseases and found that many have staff for this, but they could do better.

Methodology

A survey was sent to 100 mosquito control organizations, and responses were analyzed using statistical methods.

Potential Biases

Potential bias due to self-reported data from survey respondents.

Limitations

The study had a low response rate from private pest control companies and varied funding levels among programs.

Participant Demographics

Respondents included various types of mosquito control programs across different US regions.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.01

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pgph.0003804

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