Exploratory ethnoentomology

In an area of El Salvador where dengue fever was endemic four anthropologists, one entomologist and one epidemiologist collected data from women for one week. Participants were given nine different insects in mounted boxes which included malarial mosquitos and were then asked to group insects with common characteristics. The results were processed on computer using a package called (ANTHROPAC). "These data concerning the insect vectors , together with other data from respondents identifying symptoms of dengue, malaria, and other illnesses, provide the necessary background of information for developing appropriate messages in the campaign against dengue fever." (Reprinted from Cultural Anthropology Methods Newsletter, May 1990)