Knowledge attitude and practices regarding animal bites and rabies in urban population of North-Goa
Abstract
Rabies is an endemic zoonotic disease in India. Dog is the main reservoir of rabies in India and other developing countries? An estimated 20565 deaths are reported in India due to rabies annually. It is a universally fatal disease but preventable by timely post-exposure prophylaxis. The current study was undertaken to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices towards animal bites and rabies in an urban community catered to Urban Health Centre, Santa Cruz, North Goa. 150 adult family members, one from each randomly selected family from the urban community catered to Urban Health Centre, Santa Cruz, North Goa were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire regarding their personal details and their knowledge attitude and practices about animal bites and towards rabies. Out of the 150 study participants, 132 (88%) were aware of the disease rabies and majority i.e. 140 (93%) knew that dog bites lead to rabies. However only 60 (40%) were aware of other animal bites causing rabies. 116 (77%) of study subjects preferred a hospital for wound treatment. However a significant 34 (22%) preferred traditional remedy or healer. Nearly one third i.e. 44 (29%) of the study subjects preferred to observe the dog for at least ten days following dog bite before being advised the same at health facility. 47 (31.33%) of the study participants had been bitten by a dog in the past of which 35 (74.47%) were bitten by a stray dog. 62 (41.33%) owned a pet dog of which 32 (51%) were vaccinated.
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Introduction
Rabies is one of the oldest and deadliest diseases known to man and still continues to cause significant human mortality in India and other developing countries. This fatal viral encephalitis is a zoonotic disease transmitted to man by bites or licks or scratches from rabid animals. India is reported to have the highest incidence of rabies globally. Dogs are the main source of human rabies, contributing up to 99%of all rabies transmissions to humans.1 Annually about 15 million people are bitten by animals, mostly dogs and need post-exposure prophylaxis. An estimated 20565 deaths are reported in India due to rabies annually.2
It is a universally fatal disease but preventable by timely Post exposure prophylaxis. Community awareness is essential to prevent and control rabies. Thus to improve community awareness it is crucial to assess community knowledge about dog bites and rabies. The current study was undertaken to assess the gaps in knowledge, attitude and practices towards animal bites and rabies in an urban community catered to Urban Health Centre, Santa Cruz, and North Goa.
Conclusion
Knowledge regarding dog bite management in relation to various aspects of prevention of rabies is poor among the urban population of Santa Cruz, Goa. IEC activities are necessary to increase the awareness among the people regarding dog bites and correct measures for Post Exposure Prophylaxis in this urban area in order to control and prevent rabies in the community.