A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE (KAP) OF ANIMAL BITE MANAGEMENT AMONG PARENTS OF PEDIATRIC PATIENTS ATTENDING PEDIATRIC OPD OF A RURAL TERTIARY CENTRE, MMCH, INDIA

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Rabis is a vaccine prevented zoonotic tropical disease, transmitted by animal bite, predominantly by dog bites and is estimated to cause 59,000 humans' death worldwide annually, and is endemic in urban India. Rabies is neglected disease of poor and vulnerable populations whose death are rarely reported, still continues to be a serious public health issue in India. This study was conducted to access the sociodemographic prole, awareness and practice regarding management of animal bite among parents of pediatric patients attending pediatric OPD of a rural tertiary Centre, MMCH, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal. India. METHODOLOGY: A prospective observational study on knowledge and practice was conducted with the help of pre-designed structured questionnaire and was answered by 300 participants who had attended Pediatric OPD for Rabies treatment in MMCH. Information regarding awareness, knowledge and practice of animal bite were collected according to the response of participants and Data were analyzed in SPSS RESULT: Results indicated that the mean age of patients was 8.17 years. Majority 187 (62.3%) were males and females were 113 (37.3%) and 56.3% were from urban areas. Category II bites were 88.3%. Wound toileting was done by 63% cases and 10.8% had applied soap water and/or ointment locally and 5.7% had taken no action after animal bite. Majority (66.3%) had dog bites followed by cat (26.66%), rat (3.66%) monkey (2.66%), rabbit (0.66%). CONCLUSION: It may be concluded that majority of the patients were from urban area and most of them were bitten by dogs with poor knowledge regarding wound care and early treatment.