Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practices about Rabies and Associated Factors: In the Case of Bahir Dar Town

Abstract

This study was conducted in Bahir Dar town, from November, 2013 to April, 2014 to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) on rabies and associated factors among the community of Bahir Dar town. A cross-sectional study design and multistage sampling procedures were employed to select households for this study. Administrative areas were randomly selected from the town. Kebeles were selected using lottery method from list of kebeles in each administrative area, followed by selection of households from each kebeles using systematic random sampling method. The data were collected from 423 households through face to face interview using pretested and structured questionnaires. SPSS Windows version 16.0 was used for data analysis. Descriptive statics techniques and Pearson's chi squares analysis were used to manage the data and the association between outcome (KAP) and explanatory variables. Of the 410 respondents interviewed, 283 (69%) of them were males and 127 (31%) females and 303 (73.7%) were between 15-29 years old. The majority of the respondents 303 (73.7%) were Orthodox. Almost all of the respondents indicated that they had previously heard about rabies. The majority of the study participants 263 (64.1%) had good level of KAP. There was strong association between KAP scores and sex (x =69.624, p<0.05); educational level (x =1.893, p<0.05); occupation 2 2 (x =58.554, p<0.05) and household size (x =38.069, p<0.05). Generally these findings indicate that the Bahir Dar 2 2 community has good knowledge about rabies. But a need for educational outreach in Bahir Dar town to raise accurate knowledge on mode of transmission, symptoms and appropriate prevention and treatment measures.