Assessment Of Knowledge, Attitude, And Practice On Animal Bite, Rabies, And Its Prevention In the Rural Community in Western UP: A Cross Sectional Study
Keywords:
Rabies, Animal Bite, Knowledge Attitude Practice, Rural Community, Prevention, Uttar PradeshAbstract
Background: Rabies, a fatal zoonotic disease, remains a significant public health issue, particularly in rural areas of India where animal bites are common, and preventive measures are limited. India records the highest number of rabies-related deaths worldwide, especially in rural populations of low socio-economic status. Lack of awareness, reliance on traditional remedies, and insufficient healthcare responses exacerbate the problem.
Aim & Objective: to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) regarding animal bites, rabies, and its prevention among rural communities in Western Uttar Pradesh
Settings and Design: cross-sectional study was conducted in four villages under the field practice area of the Department of Community Medicine at UPUMS, Saifai
Methods and Material: A structured, pre-tested questionnaire was administered to 200 randomly selected adult residents. The questionnaire assessed demographic details, knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to rabies prevention.
Statistical analysis used: Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to assess associations between KAP and demographic variables, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.
Results: Of the participants, 87% were aware that rabies could result from animal bites, but only 26% knew the correct first aid. Additionally, 61.5% received the anti-rabies vaccine post-bite, while only 38.5% received rabies immunoglobulin
Conclusions: The study reveals gaps in knowledge and practices, emphasizing the need for targeted awareness campaigns and better access to healthcare
Key-words: Rabies, Animal Bite, Knowledge Attitude Practice, Rural Community, Prevention, Uttar Pradesh.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Anurag Verma, Sandip Kumar, Dhiraj Kumar Srivastava, Anshul Kumar, Shivali Singh, Arunima Sharma
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