A statewide, cross‐sectional evaluation of the knowledge and level of concern of rabies among South Carolina residents

Abstract

Animal rabies cases have increased steadily in South Carolina (SC) for the past decade. An understanding of the population's awareness and understanding of the disease is needed to tailor public health interventions. A marketing list‐serv of SC residents' email addresses was used to recruit anonymous respondents for a Knowledge Attitudes and Practices (KAP) electronic survey. A total 516 South Carolinians completed the 31‐question survey. Quantile regression and a Pearson's correlation evaluated potential associations between respondent's rabies knowledge and their attitudes and practices. Knowledge was assessed on topics of rabies biology, state animal case counts and rabies pet‐related laws. Level of concern and level of knowledge were positively correlated. Additionally, statewide hotspot analysis revealed geographic areas warranting targeted public health interventions; counties with low public concern juxtapositioned with high animal rabies case counts. This study demonstrates the utility of statewide KAPs to gauge populations rabies perception and related preventative actions to tailor appropriate educational programs to limit human‐animal rabies exposures.