National guidelines for dengue fever control, prevailing 12 years ago, follow a logic of vertical planning with chemical control practices prevalent and discrete social participation. However, recurrence of the disease in the country is worrisome, requiring new forms of action in combating the proliferation of its transmission vector, Aedes aegypti. From the seventies surfaced in the Americas to discuss the use of Ecohealth approach in the setting of vector-borne diseases, recognizing its potential to balance the health-environment relationship. This proposed intervention in the control and prevention of dengue was completed ten households in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, after an “Ecobiossocial Multicenter Study on Dengue and Chagas disease in Latin America and the Caribbean”, funded by UNICEF / UNDP & IDRC / World Bank / WHO Special Programme for Research & Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR). The present study aims to analyze dengue control strategies based on participatory, integrated and sustainable practices, subsidized by the principles of Ecohealth approach. This is a qualitative study conducted in five households in Fortaleza, geographically distinct and heterogeneous as to social, environmental and welfare neighborhoods aspects. Adopted two techniques of data collection: 1) focus group with six endemics control agents involved in the development of the model, conducted in May 2013, 2) Documentary analysis of 67 field diaries produced by researchers and scientists compiled for five social, from June 2012 to April 2013.

The collected data were classified accord to these main themes: Theme 1: The observed reality: the problem of reflection to action; Theme 2: A reinterpretation of the actions for dengue control under the view of Ecohealth principles; Theme 3: Aspects that resemble and differentiate the National Dengue Control program from the practices in Ecohealth approach: a critical and reflective analysis. The intervention’s approaches already known by the public health services: Zoning, planning and organizational tool, which have not been adopted for over 14 years by the Health Department of the Municipality of Fortaleza. It pointed out changings in relations, construction and invigoration of ties trust and appreciation of the endemic diseases agents’ job. Meanwhile, Dialogue expanded the understanding of reality in all actors involved in the study, by allowing them to share experiences, knowledge, feelings and desires. The study Ecohealth principles of focus, among its many ramifications, arouse interest in sustainable actions in controlling and dengue fever. The involvement of different social actors in human being care and environmental health reflects in breakdown proliferation of Aedes aegypti chain. Nothing new was created, just reread was proposed, rebuild and rethink traditional strategies, from a different perspective.

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