Identification of the breeding sites of dengue fever-causing mosquitoes in Sitio Paradise, Barangay Kinasang-an, Cebu City: Basis of health risk awareness.

   This study was conducted to assess the key breeding sites of dengue vectors, and was carried out in August of 2017 in Sitio Paradise, Kinasang-an, Cebu City, Philippines. The study aimed to identify the breeding sites of known dengue vectors from the genus; determine the mosquito species in both artificial and natural breeding sites present in the study site; and determine if there is a significant difference in the proportion of mosquitoes found in the natural and artificial breeding sites.

   Approximately 526 pupae were collected from the breeding sites found in the area. The breeding site were classified into three types of natural breeding sites and three types of artificial breeding sites. The leaf axils of banana plants, taro / gabi plants; coconut shells; and bamboo/wood stumps are the natural breeding sites while discarded containers (plastic and glass bottles, cans); plastic drums; rubber tires are of the artificial breeding sites. The survey showed that coconut shells were found to contain the most number of mosquito larvae followed by the bamboo/ wood stump, plastic drums, rubber tires, leaf axil, and discarded containers. The survey showed that coconut shells were found to contain the most number of mosquito larvae (20.2%) followed by the bamboo/ wood stump (19.4%), plastic drums (16.5%), rubber tires (16.2%), leaf axil (16.0%), and discarded containers (11.8%). Majority of the counted larvae in the bamboo/wood stump belonged toAedes scutellaris (37.3%) while Aedes albopictus bred mostly in the coconut shells (38.7%) and Aedes aegypti was found breeding more on their usual breeding sites, rubber tires, discarded containers, and plastic drums with majority of it in plastic drums (51.7%). Aedes poecilus was found more likely to breed in leaf axils (46.4%). The researchers further found out that there is a significant difference in the proportion of mosquitoes found in the natural and artificial breeding sites, with majority breeding in natural breeding sites. Pearson Chi-square test showed that there is a significant difference in the proportion of mosquito species  found in artificial and natural breeding sites, χ² (3) = 78.304, p< 0.001.

   Based on the results, the researchers have concluded that the key breeding sites of dengue fever -causing mosquitoes in sitio paradise are coconut shells, bamboo/ wood stump, plastic drums, rubber tires, leaf axil, and discarded containers, with coconut shells being the most productive. The researchers would like to recommend the following; to the Residents of Sitio Paradise, that they may refer from the results of this study in order to distinguish which breeding sites they need to get rid. To the Local Government Units, that they may use this research study as basis for educating community residents regarding the prevention of dengue incidence. To future researchers, that they may find our study useful and this may serve as a basis in improving this research study.