PT 
ES 
A study by Ecglobal reveals that 96% of respondents agree that brands should actively engage in combating Dengue, reflecting concern and fear as prevalent feelings among members of ecglobal.com.
No Brazil, dengue continues to be one of the major challenges in public health, representing a significant threat to the population across all regions of the country. With recurring and seasonal incidence, dengue not only causes concern due to its direct impacts on people’s health, but also imposes considerable socio-economic costs on the healthcare system and the economy as a whole.
Ecglobal conducted a survey among members of our network to better understand their perception of the disease and the situation in Brazil. This quantitative study, using a structured online questionnaire, was conducted between February 29 and March 12, 2024, and gathered 1002 responses from Ecglobal network members, including men and women predominantly aged between 21 and 64, from all regions of Brazil.
Feelings and Awareness about Dengue
When asked about their feelings related to Dengue, 76% of respondents expressed concern, followed by 50% who indicated fear, 47% insecurity, 36% responsibility, and 20% anxiety.
The prevalence of these negative feelings can be attributed to various factors, including the severity of Dengue symptoms, its widespread dissemination across various regions of Brazil, and its seasonal unpredictability. There is also a perception that prevention methods may not be entirely effective, as well as concerns about access to appropriate treatment in case of infection.
In terms of information, there is an opportunity for education about Dengue symptoms and prevention methods. Respondents demonstrated a greater need for information on symptom identification, considering that diseases such as Chikungunya, Zika, Yellow Fever, and even Covid-19 can present similar symptoms, causing confusion, especially when there are similar cases in the community. This is reflected in the 82% of the sample who consider themselves well-informed about Dengue symptoms and the 89% who claim to know how to prevent the disease by adopting necessary measures.
Prevention Behavior
98% of respondents stated they adopt some form of prevention measure, with eliminating breeding grounds and using repellent being the most cited actions. 35% actively participate in cleanup campaigns, highlighting the importance of collective engagement in combating dengue and emphasizing the need for joint action across all sectors of society.
Interestingly, urban areas are perceived as the highest-risk locations for dengue transmission. However, the 29% who chose “avoiding places with vegetation” may indicate a lack of awareness that transmission risk also exists in vegetated areas.
Contact with Dengue and Vaccine
The study reveals that 12% of respondents were infected with Dengue in the last 12 months, while 37% know someone who contracted the disease during the same period. Among those who were infected, 40% rated medical treatment and community support as “very good,” 29% as “good,” and 17% as “average.”
Given this scenario of high disease incidence, the year 2024 brought an important ally in the fight against Dengue: the vaccine. The Ministry of Health started distributing Dengue vaccines to 315 municipalities in February this year, prioritizing immunization for children aged 10 to 14, with plans to expand to other age groups progressively.
Despite the availability of the vaccine, collective actions and individual care continue to be the best form of prevention. Approximately 75% of mosquito breeding sites of Aedes aegypti are found inside homes.
Regarding awareness about the vaccine, 89% of respondents are aware of its existence, and approximately 6 out of 10 fully trust its safety and efficacy. When asked about their intention to vaccinate their children, 89% expressed this intention, with 40% planning to do so exclusively through the SUS (Brazil’s public healthcare system) and 4% through the private network. Regarding self-vaccination, 90% of respondents stated their intention to get vaccinated, with 46% opting for SUS and 3% for the private network.
“We are taking care by applying plenty of repellent and looking after our house; this situation is quite complicated.” – MAN | 32 YEARS | MG
The Role of Government and Brands in the Discussion
To promote public trust and engagement, it is crucial for the government to adopt a transparent, effective, and evidence-based approach in combating this disease. In this regard, 37% of respondents believe that the Government is doing enough to control the spread of Dengue. Assessments of governmental actions vary, with 24% of users considering the effectiveness of actions as “very good,” 28% as “good,” and 30% as “average,” while 8% consider them “bad” and 9% “terrible.”
There are several reasons why some people may not trust governmental actions, including lack of transparency regarding combat strategies, a history of inefficacy, political influence and partisanship, inequality in resource distribution, ineffective communication, a history of corruption, and mismanagement.
The involvement of brands in Dengue prevention activities can be a powerful strategy to increase awareness and promote effective actions against this mosquito-borne disease. In this sense, 96% of respondents believe that brands should get involved in combating Dengue, with 78% stating that all brands should be involved and 18% preferring specific brands, especially those related to health and repellents.
“All help in dissemination and prevention is welcome. From educational media inserts to concrete actions in communities, public spaces, etc.” – MAN | 40 YEARS | SP
Additionally, 92% believe that brands should work in partnership with the government and health organizations to combat Dengue. About 71% have seen some brand promoting awareness or prevention campaigns against Dengue, and 68% rate these campaigns as “very good” or “good,” while 89% believe that campaigns promoted by brands can have a positive impact on reducing Dengue transmission.
“Funding scientific research against #Dengue, of which there are already some ongoing, but they are progressing slowly due to lack of funding.” – MAN | 32 YEARS | RJ
Among the actions mentioned by respondents that brands should undertake are informative campaigns about Dengue, investment in prevention and combat, development of Dengue-fighting products, promotion and free distribution of Dengue-related products, donations, and implementation of Dengue care measures.
When asked about the first brand that comes to mind when they think about Dengue prevention, the brand SBP is the most recalled.
