Assessment of community support for Wolbachia-mediated population suppression as a control method for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in a community cohort in Puerto Rico |
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| Authors: | Liliana Snchez-Gonzlez Laura E Adams Rafael Saavedra Emma M Little Nicole A Medina Chelsea G Major Marina Bruck Julieanne Miranda Coral Rosado-Santiago Kyle Ryff Marianyoly Ortiz Grayson Brown Roberto Barrera Carmen L Prez-Guerra Vanessa Rivera-Amill Gabriela Paz-Bailey |
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| Institution: | 1. CDC Division of Vector Borne Diseases, Dengue Branch, San Juan, Puerto Rico;2. Puerto Rico Vector Control Unit, San Juan, Puerto Rico;3. Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America;4. Ponce Health Sciences University/Ponce Research Institute, Ponce, Puerto Rico; USDA-ARS Center for Medical Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, UNITED STATES |
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| Abstract: | Arboviral diseases transmitted by Aedes species mosquitoes pose an increasing public health challenge in tropical regions. Wolbachia-mediated population suppression (Wolbachia suppression) is a vector control method used to reduce Aedes mosquito populations by introducing male mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia, a naturally occurring endosymbiotic bacterium. When Wolbachia-infected male mosquitoes mate with female wild mosquitoes, the resulting eggs will not hatch. Public support is vital to the successful implementation and sustainability of vector control interventions. Communities Organized to Prevent Arboviruses (COPA) is a cohort study to determine the incidence of arboviral disease in Ponce, Puerto Rico and evaluate vector control methods. Focus groups were conducted with residents of COPA communities to gather their opinion on vector control methods; during 2018–2019, adult COPA participants were interviewed regarding their views on Wolbachia suppression; and a follow-up questionnaire was conducted among a subset of participants and non-participants residing in COPA communities. We analyzed factors associated with support for this method. Among 1,528 participants in the baseline survey, median age was 37 years and 63% were female. A total of 1,032 (68%) respondents supported Wolbachia suppression. Respondents with an income of $40,000 or more were 1.34 times as likely 95% CI: 1.03, 1.37] to support Wolbachia suppression than those who earned less than $40,000 annually. Respondents who reported repellant use were 1.19 times as likely to support Wolbachia suppression 95% CI: 1.03, 1.37]. A follow-up survey in 2020 showed that most COPA participants (86%) and non-participants living in COPA communities (84%) supported Wolbachia suppression during and after an educational campaign. The most frequent questions regarding this method were related to its impact on human and animal health, and the environment. Continuous community engagement and education efforts before and during the implementation of novel vector control interventions are necessary to increase and maintain community support. |
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