Rabies, dogs and education : A cross-sectional study on the knowledge, attitude and practice in school children in Tamil Nadu

Abstract: Although known and feared for thousands of years, rabies remains a real and present threat to thousands of people, especially in low- and middle income countries. In India, rabies is an endemic disease, causing human deaths every year. The primary mode of transmission is through the bite of an infected dog. Fighting the disease in the dog population through vaccinations remains the most efficient way to eradicate the disease. The knowledge of rabies in India is unsatisfactory, as a lot of people lack awareness about the severity of the disease and the importance of washing the bitten area and seeking medical attention for post exposure prophylaxis when bitten by a dog. Education programs have been seen to have an effect on the knowledge, attitude and practice towards dogs and dog bites, and also in reducing the number of dog bites in children. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding rabies and dogs in school children, and to make a rough assessment of how it is affected by vaccination campaigns and education programs. The study was carried out in the areas of Madurai and Ooty/Coonoor in Tamil Nadu, India, in connection with a large rabies vaccination campaign conducted by the Worldwide Veterinary Service. Questionnaires were distributed in 13 different schools in the two areas, some before (pre-intervention) and some after (post-intervention) an educational speech on dog behaviour and rabies, and the distribution of written information material. The results showed that the children that had partaken in the brief educational lecture had a better knowledge of the modes of transmission of rabies, how to treat a dog bite and how to respond to dogs in the street. The children in the post-intervention group were more aware of the seriousness of the rabies disease and that it is a problem in India. Neither post-intervention nor pre-intervention groups believed themselves or their families to be in danger of contracting rabies. The conclusions drawn from this study is that neither long term eradication efforts or larger vaccination campaigns are sufficient to influence knowledge, attitude and practice in children, and that education programs directed at children are of great importance in preventing dog bites and rabies infection.