Background and Goals
Rabies remains a significant public health concern in Nepal, particularly in rural areas where awareness and preventive practices are often limited. A study conducted between October and December 2021 aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding rabies prevention and control among households in three districts: Siraha, Parsa, and Nawalparasi West. The goal was to identify gaps in knowledge and practices to inform targeted interventions for rabies control in these communities.
Materials and Methods
The study involved a cross-sectional survey of 308 household heads from the selected districts. Data were collected through in-person interviews using a structured questionnaire that assessed respondents’ knowledge about rabies, attitudes towards its prevention, and practices related to rabies control. The survey also examined factors such as pet ownership, vaccination practices, and health-seeking behaviors following potential rabies exposures.
Results
- Pet Ownership and Vaccination: Among the 70 respondents who owned pet animals, 82.9% vaccinated them against rabies. However, only 87.9% of these pet owners kept a vaccination record.
- Health-Seeking Behavior: Nearly all respondents (99.7%) stated they would visit hospitals after being bitten by a suspected rabid animal. Additionally, 18.2% indicated they would also consult traditional healers for treatment.
- First Aid Practices: Approximately 70% of respondents knew that they should wash the bitten area with soap and water.
- Reporting Practices: Around 60% of respondents said they would not report to local authorities if they saw someone bitten by a presumed rabid dog or observed animal behavior suggestive of rabies.
- Socio-Demographic Associations: Chi-square tests revealed significant associations between socio-demographic characteristics and practices towards rabies prevention and control
Conclusion
The study highlights several critical issues in rabies prevention and control in rural Nepal:
- Knowledge Gaps: While many respondents were aware of basic rabies prevention measures, there were significant gaps in knowledge regarding the importance of reporting suspected rabid animals and the role of community members in rabies control.
- Health-Seeking Behavior: The high percentage of individuals seeking hospital care following potential rabies exposures indicates a strong health-seeking behavior. However, the concurrent consultation with traditional healers suggests a need for integrated health education.
- Reporting Practices: The reluctance to report suspected rabid animals to authorities underscores the necessity for community engagement and awareness campaigns.
To improve rabies prevention and control, it is essential to enhance community education, promote responsible pet ownership, and strengthen reporting mechanisms.
Keywords
Rabies, Household Practices, Prevention, Control, Rural Nepal, Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices
References
- Dhakal, A., Ghimire, R. P., Regmi, S., & Kaphle, K. (2023). Households’ Practices towards Rabies Prevention and Control in Rural Nepal. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(7), 5427. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20075427
Copyright
Dhakal, A., Ghimire, R. P., Regmi, S., & Kaphle, K. (2023). This article is an open-access publication distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided proper credit is given to the original author(s) and source.
Disclaimer
This lesson paraphrases and adapts content from the original research by Dhakal et al. (2023). All rights to the original publication remain with the authors and journal. This material is intended solely for educational and teaching purposes. Any commercial use or reproduction of the original work without permission is prohibited. You can find the full case study here: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/7/5427
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