Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding rabies and its control among dog owners in Kigali city, Rwanda

Abstract

Background: Rabies is a zoonotic viral disease that can occur in all warm-blooded mammals, including man [1]. Vaccinating dogs can protect people from contracting rabies [2]. Annual deaths due to rabies was estimated to 61000 worldwide [1], and Africa represented 35.2% of the deaths [3]. In Rwanda, rabies is a public health threat to the public [4], but the country does not have information on the disease [5]. Methodology: The present study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of rabies and its control among dog owners in Kigali city, Rwanda. We conducted a cross-sectional survey using a structured questionnaire among 137 dog owners randomly selected within each of the selected 9 study sites. A series of chi-square tests of association and binary logistic regression were used to determine the important factors associated with the response variables. Results: The results showed that 99.5% of respondents could mention at least a host susceptible to rabies. Only 22.4 % and 21.3 % knew about canine and human rabies, respectively. Nearly 73.6% knew that human rabies can be transmitted through dog-bites and 99% could identify at least a clinical sign of canine rabies. Nealy 81.8% thought that regularly vaccinating dogs could prevent people from contracting dog-transmitted rabies. Only 43.1% and 26.3% were aware that clinical human and canine rabies are always deadly, respectively. Respondents who would observe a dog for some time, once it bites a man or an animal, represented 69%. Only 20.4% were familiar with cleaning dog-bites wounds with water and soap, before attending health care facilities. Few respondents owning dogs (20.6%) knew that puppies could receive rabies vaccination before the age of three months. Of respondents who owned vaccinated dogs, 78% were happy about the cost of rabies vaccination of dogs (Rwandan Francs 0-30,000). Nearly 57.9% had their dogs vaccinated at home by veterinarians. Eighty-two (82%) percent of respondents received rabies information from neighbours, the media and public meetings. Logistic regression analyses indicated that none of respondents’sex, education level, and duration of dog ownership was statistically associated with their knowledge of rabies. The respondents who had kept dogs for 5-10 years were less likely to have as sufficient knowledge as those who had kept dogs for more than ten years (AOR=0.96). Male respondents were more likely to adopt a positive attitude (AOR=1.47) and have appropriate practice (AOR=1.40) towards rabies. The respondents who had completed at least primary education, were more likely to have appropriate practice of rabies (AOR=1.41). Conclusions: This study identified gaps in the dog owners’ rabies knowledge of transmission, treatment and control. In addition, none of respondents’sex, educational level, and dog ownership length was statistically associated with their rabies knowledge. Overall, this study indicated that all categories of dog owners in Kigali city did not have good levels of rabies knowledge. Rabies interventions including awareness component in the studied population should be homogeneously improved.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice about rabies prevention and control: A community survey in Nepal

“…This also applies to the Nepalese context. Our study further tied well with the findings of Ntampaka et al [24]. They also reported similar observations that the higher level of education might have helped participants to understand the treatment methods and their availability in their area.…”

“…However, a limited number of respondents preferred to consult the local healer and applied the herbal products and spices as a substitute for the first aid. Washing the dog bite wound with soap water has been strongly recommended [1] Nepalese participants' response was relatively better than the previous reports found in Rwanda, Tanzania, and India, Rwanda (20.4%), Tanzania (5%), and India (43.07%) [24,25,35]. Therefore, the study suggested that awareness and educational programs were required in the communities to control rabies.…”

Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions about rabies among the people in the community, healthcare professionals and veterinary practitioners in Bangladesh

“…In contrast, pet owners did not employ adequate practises for the vaccination of their pets. These findings were inconsistent with Ntampaka et al [ 30 ] study in Rwanda who reported that 58% owners had their pets vaccinated at least once a year. This might be due to socio-economic variation with Bangladesh and indicates lack of best practices that need to be improved through awareness campaigns.…”

“…The success of the One Health initiative relies on enhancing the KAP level among the public and on improving the skill of the personnel directly dealing with animal bite management and suspected rabies patients, including humans and animals. There have been many community-based rabies surveys that have focused only on the community members in Bangladesh and other developing countries [ [22] , [23] , [24] , [25] , [26] , [27] , [28] ]; however, till date no study in Bangladesh and a minimum number of studies in elsewhere have determined the level of KAP about rabies among other stakeholders of rabies elimination programme [ [29] , [30] , [31] , [32] ].…”

Canine Gastrointestinal Nematodiases and Associated Risk Factors in Kigali City, Rwanda

“…We determined the sample size based on the national dog population of 18,117 reported in 2016 [28]. The number of dogs in Kigali represented 2,157, thus 11.9% of the national dog population [29]. Due to a lack of previous studies on canine helminthiases in Rwanda, the prevalence of canine nematodiases was assumed to be 50%.…”