ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, PRACTICE AND PERCEPTION OF INDIVIDUALS ON RABIES WITHIN AWUTU SENYA EAST MUNICIPALITY

Introduction: Rabies, a neglected zoonotic disease, causes over 50,000 deaths annually in Ghana. Despite its increasing incidence, it has been neglected due to inadequate knowledge, negligence, or ineffective veterinary services. This research project aims to determine the knowledge, attitude, practice, and perception of individuals in six zones (Zongo, Ofaakor, Akweley, Opeikuma, Walantu, and Kpormetey) of Awutu Senya East Municipality on rabies. Materials and Method: The study used a descriptive cross-sectional survey design and stratified sampling to study the Awutu Senya East Municipality. The sample consisted of 394 individuals, aged 18 or older, living in the municipality for at least one year, and those with access to rabies-related health services. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data, with a p-value of ≤ 0.05 considered for significance. Results: The study revealed that while individuals have a general understanding of rabies disease, there are significant gaps in their knowledge about transmission, prevention, immediate wound care, post-exposure prophylaxis, vaccination availability, and public health concern. The study further revealed that age, education, Community awareness programs, pet ownership, a history of dog bites, and previous exposure to rabies information significantly influence individuals' knowledge about the disease (P<0.05). However, gender and occupation do not significantly impact knowledge (P>0.05). The study revealed that individuals have a strong positive attitude towards rabies vaccination, with high scores for supporting mandatory vaccinations, believing in government-provided vaccinations, prioritizing vaccination in public health initiatives, and believing in the importance of vaccinating pets. However, there is a lack of confidence in the effectiveness of vaccination, willingness to vaccinate pets regularly, and confidence in vaccine safety.  From the study, a weak negative correlation was found with "Individuals' Experiences and Practices After Exposure to Dog Bite" and "Attitudes Toward Anti-Rabies Vaccination," suggesting that knowledge about rabies may not always translate into proactive behaviors or positive attitudes towards vaccination.  Conclusion and Recommendation: In conclusion, this research has revealed that while there is generally a high awareness of rabies, particularly regarding its preventive measures, notable knowledge gaps persist, emphasizing the need for focused educational efforts.

Introduction: Rabies, a neglected zoonotic disease, causes over 50,000 deaths annually in Ghana. Despite its increasing incidence, it has been neglected due to inadequate knowledge, negligence, or ineffective veterinary services. This research project aims to determine the knowledge, attitude, practice, and perception of individuals in six zones (Zongo, Ofaakor, Akweley, Opeikuma, Walantu, and Kpormetey) of Awutu Senya East Municipality on rabies. Materials and Method: The study used a descriptive cross-sectional survey design and stratified sampling to study the Awutu Senya East Municipality. The sample consisted of 394 individuals, aged 18 or older, living in the municipality for at least one year, and those with access to rabies-related health services. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data, with a p-value of ≤ 0.05 considered for significance. Results: The study revealed that while individuals have a general understanding of rabies disease, there are significant gaps in their knowledge about transmission, prevention, immediate wound care, post-exposure prophylaxis, vaccination availability, and public health concern. The study further revealed that age, education, Community awareness programs, pet ownership, a history of dog bites, and previous exposure to rabies information significantly influence individuals' knowledge about the disease (P<0.05). However, gender and occupation do not significantly impact knowledge (P>0.05). The study revealed that individuals have a strong positive attitude towards rabies vaccination, with high scores for supporting mandatory vaccinations, believing in government-provided vaccinations, prioritizing vaccination in public health initiatives, and believing in the importance of vaccinating pets. However, there is a lack of confidence in the effectiveness of vaccination, willingness to vaccinate pets regularly, and confidence in vaccine safety.  From the study, a weak negative correlation was found with "Individuals' Experiences and Practices After Exposure to Dog Bite" and "Attitudes Toward Anti-Rabies Vaccination," suggesting that knowledge about rabies may not always translate into proactive behaviors or positive attitudes towards vaccination.  Conclusion and Recommendation: In conclusion, this research has revealed that while there is generally a high awareness of rabies, particularly regarding its preventive measures, notable knowledge gaps persist, emphasizing the need for focused educational efforts.