Rabies: Knowledge, Attitude and Practices in and Around South Gondar, North West Ethiopia

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2017 to April 2017 to assess knowledge, attitude and practices of the community towards rabies in south Gondar zone, Ethiopia. A structured closed ended questionnaire was used to collect the data through face to face interviews among 384 respondents. The data were then analyzed using SPSS statistical software version 20. Almost all (91.5%) surveyed individuals were aware of rabies. Bite was known as mode of rabies transmission by majority of the respondents (71.1%) with considerable means of transmission through wound contact with saliva of diseased animals. Sudden change of behavior was described as a major clinical sign of rabies in animals by the majority of the respondents. Nearly half of the respondents (48.2%) believed that consumption of rabid animal’s meat can be a medicine for human rabies and majority of the respondents (66.7%) indicated crossing a river before 40 days after dog bite increases severity of the disease. More than eighty percent of the respondents prefer traditional medicines for treating rabies in humans. In total, 51% of the respondents had poor Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) level about the disease rabies. Educational status (χ2 = 21.152), Monthly income (χ2 = 23.059), Sex (χ2 = 11.249), source of information (χ2 = 8.594) and Residence (χ2 = 4.109) were significantly associated with KAP scores (p < 0.05). Education and awareness creation should be given to increase communities KAP about the disease with special focus to traditional healers.

Knowledge, attitude, and practices associated with rabies in villages with different dog vaccination statuses in Cambodia

“…This finding was higher than the previous findings from Ethiopia [15,16], Cambodia [14], and India [17]. The study found that 99.4% of the respondents had heard about rabies, which was higher than previous findings from Ethiopia (77.9%) [15], Cambodia (86.9%) [14], Pakistan (89.4%) [18], and Bhutan (98%) [19]. This study not only highlights the need to enhance dog rabies vaccination campaigns but also reveals a high level of awareness of rabies within this endemic country.…”

“…We found that all of the 175 respondents from the DRUV villages did not vaccinate their dogs against rabies. This finding was higher than the previous findings from Ethiopia [15,16], Cambodia [14], and India [17]. The study found that 99.4% of the respondents had heard about rabies, which was higher than previous findings from Ethiopia (77.9%) [15], Cambodia (86.9%) [14], Pakistan (89.4%) [18], and Bhutan (98%) [19].…”

knowledge, attitude, and practice study on animal bite, rabies, and its prevention in an urban community

“…Another study done in Ethiopia[ 17 ] differs in knowledge about the fatal nature of the disease (84.6%), awareness about the prevention of rabies with vaccination (65.9%), mode of transmission, and appropriate first aid. But this study is similar in the association of the knowledge level of the participants with education and gender to our study.…”

“…[ 7 8 12 13 15 17 18 ] Symptoms of paralytic rabies (weakness, loss of coordination, and paralysis), the commonest form of rabies in dogs, are not recognized by the majority of participants of this study as same as other studies on rabies. [ 7 8 12 13 15 17 18 ] It is important to educate these details to the community, especially the pet owners and animal handlers to be cautious while handling animals.…”

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

“…Other studies recorded that the KAP with rabies is far better in urban residents than rural communities [ 24 ]. A better understanding of rabies knowledge in the upper-class people and higher education level may be due to their education, social contact, and self-awareness level [ 37 ]. Similar observations were also reported from Ethiopia [ 26 ].…”