Assessment of Community Knowledge, Attitude and Practices about Rabies Prevention and Control in Enderta Woreda, Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Rabies is a deadly viral disease transmitted through the saliva of infected animals via bites or scratches. It can be prevented through vaccination and by eliminating the disease from reservoir populations. Domestic dogs are the main source of transmission in many Asian and African countries. In Ethiopia, rabies is still a significant public health problem, with an estimated annual death rate of 10,000. Lack of awareness is a major obstacle to prevention and control efforts, especially in endemic areas.Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of the community in Enderta District regarding rabies disease.Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted using multi-stage random sampling to select kebele and households to be included in the study. The required data was collected through face-to-face interviews using pretested and structured questionnaires from 591 households. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS Windows version 20. Descriptive statistics techniques and multivariate analysis were used to manage the data.Results: A total of 591 participants, of whom 73.1% were female, responded to the survey, yielding a response rate of 96.3%. Of the total participants, 585 (99%) reported having heard about rabies. Moreover, 6.3% of the study participants reported having experienced rabies in their lifetime. Almost half of the study participants (49.2%) agreed that all dogs are dangerous. Additionally, the majority of the participants (50.4%) agreed that stray dogs are dangerous. Despite this perception, 71.6% of the participants reported that their children actively touch dogs. Finally, the odds of individuals who follow informal reading and writing practices encountering rabies were found to be 60% less likely (AOR = 0.4, 95% CI, (0.24-0. 81).Conclusion and recommendation: The study indicates that education, religion, and media exposure have an impact on attitudes towards rabies, family size is linked to knowledge, and dog bites are linked to practice. The health and agricultural offices in Enderta Woreda should work together to eliminate rabid dogs. Conducting a future cross-sectional study and awareness campaign in schools, churches, and through various media outlets can also increase awareness of rabies.