Knowledge of Rabies among Dog Bite Victims in Srinagar, Kashmir

Abstract

Introduction: In Asia, rabies features a long history geological dating back to antiquity. For millennia, the disease had been thought-about an endemic for its prevalence. Rabies could be a serious public health concern, notably in Asia and the African continent. Methods: The present study was carried in Srinagar district. Regarding the knowledge of people, the interview schedule was formulated. As per Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), the city is divided into two divisions; four zones and 34 wards. To exploit the diversity of population response, all the four zones were considered for the present investigation. Results: Regarding the knowledge of the disease rabies only a few, 15 % knew its transmission method. Only 15% knew about the identification of rabid dog and they also knew about its signs and symptoms. Following a suspect bite majority, 52.50% claimed they would seek medical care after the bite. About 100 % were aware they would go to the hospital after the bite. Only a few, 20% knew about the application of first aid before reaching the hospital. Conclusion: The study showed that victims lacked a complete perception of rabies. Factors influencing little awareness included lower socioeconomic rank and education suggesting that the maximum menace of rabies is probable to fall on the susceptible sectors of society, particularly poor members with slight or no proper education. The lack of inclusive awareness might interpret into elevated mortality allied to rabies. There is a need for sensitization of people so that their information can be improved and their optimistic attitude could be translated into apt practices for prevention/control of rabies.