GROUP EXERCISE

DEVC 154 Laboratory Exercise 3

Development and Production of a Technical Document

Concept Note for the Technical Document

A. Rationale

Dengue is the most critical mosquito-borne viral disease in the Philippines. Cases in
the country rose from 37,101 in 2006 up to 118,868 in 2010 (Espino et al., 2012). In July
2019, the Department of Health declared a national dengue alert. The country saw a spike
in cases. There were 420,453 cases, including 765 deaths, between January 1, 2019, to
December 14 (International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies [IFRC],
2020). Most of the affected were children between 5 to 9 years old and were in sub-urban
areas.

Espino et al. (2012) stated that communities could effectively control

mosquito-borne diseases with community involvement. There have been programs
addressing the community’s health knowledge. However, there must also be programs
catering to their health behavior. The programs that policymakers create have a significant
effect on the community. However, they cannot address the problems if they have gaps in
their knowledge of the problem.

Policymakers are experienced in health-related planning and activities but lack an

understanding of entomology or epidemiology. They can recognize mosquito-borne
diseases, but most are unaware that different Aedes species transmit them. Moreover,
they are not familiar with push-pull technology in addressing mosquito-borne diseases.

Policymakers must address their knowledge gaps to create effective

community-based programs. A policy brief will be made that summarizes mosquito-borne
disease and strategy studies, key insights, and recommendations for them. The brief will
be as concise as effectively possible to retain their interest and written in Filipino – their
preferred language. The topic will include introducing entomology and epidemiology,
different diseases carried by varying Aedes species, and the push-pull strategy in
mosquito control.

B. Treatment

The output to be produced will be a policy brief with no less than two pages and no
more than four pages. The policy brief will be written in Filipino while adapting English words
with no direct Filipino translations. The materials will use blue and green shades based on the
intended audience's preferences. The material will also adopt an infographic-like style to
deliver the content concisely while still using catchy visuals.
The policy brief will contain information gathered from the studies conducted by Espino
et al. (2009) and other studies that may be relevant to the topic. It will focus on controlling
mosquito-borne diseases within the community. Considering the knowledge of the audience,
the policy brief will introduce them to three sub-topics: (1) a brief introduction to the
entomology and epidemiology, in the context of Aedes spp., (2) dangers of mosquito vectors
on the community, and the (3) community-based vector control strategy, (4) participation of
community members on discussed strategy.
The first page (or cover page) of the policy brief will overview the whole policy brief and
summarize crucial information and recommendations. Then the body will discuss the topics in
the order mentioned above, using charts and pictures/diagrams when necessary to make it
more understandable. After the discussions, key findings and recommendations will be listed
in ordered lists.

C. Objectives

After reading the policy brief, the target audience should be able to:
a. Describe the epidemiology and entomology of Aedes spp. in their own words;
b. Identify at least one of the dangers of mosquito vectors on the community;
c. Describe the discussed community-based vector strategy in their own words;
d. Discuss the importance of community participation in community-based vector
control strategies; and
e. Identify at least one recommended course of action.
D. Topic Outline

TOPIC PERSON/S TREATMENT DESCRIPTION

IN-CHARGE

Policy Overview ● One-page straight Synthesizes the whole

narration policy brief into one page.

It summarizes crucial
information and the
importance of addressing
the problem.

A brief introduction ● Straight narration Differentiate entomology

to entomology and and epidemiology. It
epidemiology in the contains relevant
context of Aedes information regarding
spp. and their Aedes spp. and what
diseases. diseases they carry.

Dangers of ● Straight narration Discusses the dangers of

mosquito-borne mosquito vectors, like
diseases in the their effects on
community. pregnancy as studied by
Capeding et al. (2010)

Community-based ● Straight narration Discusses the use of

vector control BG-Sentinel in capturing
strategy Aedes Aegypti in a
push-pull vector control
strategy.

Guided by the studies of

Salazar et al. (2012;
2013)

Community ● Straight narration Highlights the need for

members' active community
participation in participation in controlling
vector control vectors.
strategy
Guided by the findings of
Espino et al. (2009).

Key Findings ● Straight narration Enumerates key details

● Enumeration from the four topics
Recommendations. ● Straight narration Enumerates
● Enumeration recommended action for
policymakers regarding
the discussed topics,
especially the use of
References

Capeding, R.Z., Brion, J.D., Caponpon, M.M., Gibbons, R.V., Jarman, R.G., Yoon, I., &
Library, D.H. (2010) The Incidence, Characteristics, and Presentation of Dengue Virus
Infections during Infancy. The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
2010

Espino, F., Marco, J., Mendoza, Y., Salazar, N.P., Salazar, F., & Velzaco, A. (2009)
Community-based dengue vector control: experiences in behavior change in
Metropolitan Manila, Philippines

International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies (2020) Philippines:
Dengue Final Report DREF Operation (2020).
https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/philippines-dengue-final-report-dref-operation
-n-mdrph033-27-april-2020

Salazar, F.V., Achee, N.L., Grieco, J.P., Prabaripai, A., Eisen, L., Shah, P., Chareonviriyaphap
T. (2012) Evaluation of a peridomestic mosquito trap for integration into an Aedes
aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) push-pull control strategy. Journal Vector Ecology.

Salazar, F.V., Achee, N.L., Grieco, J.P., Prabaripai, A., Eisen, L., Ojo, T.A., Dureza, C.,
Polsomboon, S., & Chareonviriyaphap T. (2013) Effect of Aedes aegypti exposure to
spatial repellent chemicals on BG-SentinelTM trap catches. Parasites & Vectors 2013,
6:145