This text raises critical aspects of the practice of education, communication and community mobilization undertaken for the control of dengue in Brazil. This issue is of great importance at the present time, in a context that challenges the society to find efficient forms of control. The relevant literature was consulted and 22 articles published were found in the BVS Public Health database, during the period from 1977 to 2006. Most of these articles were from the states of S. Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The following aspects were considered in critical analysis: the model of communication on which practices of communication and education are based; the explanatory model of health and illness; the model of prevention, and the model of social participation or relationship between State and Society. Challenges related to cultural change are presented. These challenges must be confronted as part of the process of construction of a democratic, decentralized and efficient Brazilian Health System. Thus, the solutions are not restricted to technical options. It is necessary to review the principles that shape the practices in order to make them more efficient.
Dengue; Health communication; Health education; Consumer participation; Health practices