A pilot study on the usefulness of information and education campaign materials in enhancing the knowledge, attitude and practice on rabies in rural Sri Lanka

Hiko Tamashiro,W.R Bandula Kumara,Ananda Jayasinghe,Yoshihide Ohbayashi,D.D Niranjala De Silva,Gino C Matibag,Rossana A Ditangco,Koji Kanda,I.N Gamini Perera,Hiroko Yamashina,G S Panduka De S Gunawardena

doi:10.3855/jidc.106

Hiko Tamashiro, W.R Bandula Kumara + Show 9 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.106

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Abstract

Rabies remains endemic in Sri Lanka despite a strong government patronized anti-rabies campaign. Personal, cultural or religious beliefs have been thought to influence health practices that could render rabies prevalent in the country. The knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of 580 household heads/members from Nuwara Eliya District, Sri Lanka, regarding rabies were explored through a structured questionnaire. An improvement/deterioration in their knowledge and practices after the use of information and education campaign (IEC) materials was assessed through a repeat exploration at an interval of four weeks. Respondents showed inclination toward animal birth control (60%) rather than elimination methods (24%). There was disparity between pet owners enthusiasm to take pets for rabies inoculation (57%) and their ability to show dog vaccination cards (40%). Almost twice more pet owners than non-pet owners believed that it is their responsibility to control the population of roaming pet dogs (aOR=1.78; 95% CI: 1.14 to 2.76). The rabies leaflets were very effective in informing the people on how to deal with rabid animals, the earliest schedule for anti-rabies vaccine (ARV), and repeat vaccination. Awareness and proper attitude toward rabies management and canine population control are adequate among the rural Sinhalese and Buddhist populations of Sri Lanka; however, their current health practices should be improved. The rabies KAP could be further enhanced through the use of IEC materials.

Highlights

Of the estimated 55,000 annual deaths due to human rabies in the world, more than 33,000 fatalities are likely to take place in the South-East Asia Region (SEAR)
Rabies is endemic in seven countries of the SEAR (Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand) with the exception of Bhutan, DPR Korea, Maldives, and Timor-Leste
The majority of respondents had heard of rabies (94.5%)

Summary

Introduction

Of the estimated 55,000 annual deaths due to human rabies in the world, more than 33,000 fatalities are likely to take place in the South-East Asia Region (SEAR). Rabies is endemic in seven countries of the SEAR (Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand) with the exception of Bhutan, DPR Korea, Maldives, and Timor-Leste. Sri Lanka has been implementing rabies control programs for nearly three decades, rabies remains a public health threat in the country. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), between 1987 and 2007, with the total number of human fatalities reaching 2,042, the country ranks number three in the region and seven in the world in disease fatalities (India 24,4478; Bangladesh 22,900; China 13,995; Philippines 5,658; Viet Nam 5,183; Pakistan 2,843; Myanmar 1,683; Thailand 1,377; Indonesia 1,208) [6]. An improvement/deterioration in their knowledge and practices after the use of information and education campaign (IEC) materials was assessed through a repeat exploration at an interval of four weeks. The rabies leaflets were very effective in informing the people on how to deal with rabid animals, the earliest schedule for anti-rabies vaccine (ARV), and repeat vaccination

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Results