Effect of an ecosystem-centered community participation programme on the incidence of dengue. A field randomized, controlled trial

Objectives The purpose of this study is to analyse the effect of a community participation programme based on the ecosystem model on the incidence of dengue in urban communities. Methods A randomized controlled field trial was conducted in the state of Colima, Mexico. The intervention consisted of a community participation programme focused on the ecosystem; simultaneously, the control groups were communities that only received the usual official prevention programs. The incidence of dengue was estimated in people of both groups due to the appearance of de novo IgM antibodies during the follow-up period. Results The incidence of dengue in the intervened group was 2.58%/month ( n = 818) and in control group 2.26%/month ( n = 994), with a risk ratio of 1.14 (95% CI 0.89–1.45) and a PAF of 0.06 (95% CI − 0.056 to 0.16). The A. aegypti larval density (Breteau Index) was reduced in the treated group. Conclusions The implementation of a community participation programme in the cities of Colima, Mexico, showed a slightly counterproductive effect on the incidence of dengue. This happened even with a reduction in the A. aegypti index.