Abstract
BackgroundThis study aimed to assess the extent of knowledge and understanding of rabies disease in rural and urban communities of Pakistan. It also identified malpractices after suspected dog bite that might pose a risk for humans contracting rabies.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted (n = 1466) on people having different age groups and educational levels in four different geographic regions of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces in Pakistan. Knowledge, attitude, and practices of people were assessed using a structured questionnaire. We used a bivariate and multivariate analysis to study the association between rabies related mortalities in near or extended family members and different risk behaviors.ResultsOur results demonstrate that the majority of the juvenile population (less than 18 years of age) were not aware of the clinical signs of rabies in animals. 75% of the total respondents were not vaccinated against rabies, 60% did not seek a doctor’s advice after a suspected animal bite, and 55% had inadequate health care facilities for rabies patients in local hospitals.Respondents that had pets at home had not vaccinated (38%; p < 0.05; odds ratio 1.58) themselves against rabies due to lack of knowledge and awareness of pre-exposure prophylaxis for rabies (51%; p < 0.05; odds ratio 1.25). They also tend to not visit doctor after suspected bite (52%; p < 0.05; odds ratio 1.97), which may had resulted in more deaths (65%; p < 0.05; odds ratio 1.73) of someone in their near or extended family due to rabies.ConclusionsLack of knowledge about the nature of rabies disease and prophylaxis has contributed to increase of rabies related deaths. Inadequate health care facilities and poor attitude of not seeking medical attention after suspected dog bite are the major reasons of rabies related deaths. These findings could help in devising a targeted management strategy and awareness program to control and reduce the incidence of human rabies related deaths in Pakistan.
Highlights
This study aimed to assess the extent of knowledge and understanding of rabies disease in rural and urban communities of Pakistan
Rabies is endemic in Pakistan with over 50,000 reported cases of dog bites and approximately 6000 deaths annually resulting in huge economic losses [2, 4]
Study area Our KAP surveys were conducted in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa formally known as KPK, province of Pakistan (Map.1.0)
Summary
This study aimed to assess the extent of knowledge and understanding of rabies disease in rural and urban communities of Pakistan. It identified malpractices after suspected dog bite that might pose a risk for humans contracting rabies. Rabies is considered as one of the oldest infectious disease that affects all mammals [1, 2]. This disease is caused by a rhabdovirus and is usually transmitted to humans through the bite from a rabid animal [3]. The incidence density of human deaths linked with rabies typically ranges from 20 to 30 cases per million people yearly in India [5], 14 cases per million people yearly in Bangladesh [6] and 7.0 to 9.8 cases per million people yearly in Pakistan [7]
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