Knowledge of Rabies Vis-A-Vis Dog Bite Exposure among Non-Victimized People within Srinagar District of Kashmir Valley, India

Objective: People have low information regarding rabies and its prevention. Understanding community information on rabies is vitally attributable to their infl uence on post-exposure treatmentseeking behavior as community support is important for rabies bar and management program.

Methods: The present study was carried in Srinagar district. Regarding perception of people interview schedule was formulated. As per Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), the city is divided into two divisions; four zones and 34 wards. To exploit the diversity of population response, all the four zones were considered for the present investigation

Results: Regarding knowledge of non-victimized people it was seen they were aware, but they lacked a complete perception of rabies. The greater parts of respondents had heard of rabies (81.25%) and were awake of its spread through dog bites; however they lacked the information about the other animals transmitting rabies. This faction has enhanced communication and information regarding what is happening in their dwelling, counting dog bites as well. Bite was being mentioned (70.93%) by most of the respondents as a means of transmission but only some of the respondents mentioned scratches and licking as the method of transmission. This could due to lack of complete acuity of the disease rabies. In our community rabies is well-known as mad dog (halkaer houn) which is allied through aggression. Aggression was thus known by most of the respondents (35.20%) which is in stroke amid the verity that furious form of rabies is widespread in animals. Regarding about the treatment, the majority were aware that the SMHS (95.31%) hospital provides vaccines and the respondents didn’t choose any traditional methods. Some respondents knew about the need of prompt washing of the wound by water and soap (25%). Victims would seek medical attention, potentially due to fear of rabies.

Conclusion: The good level of knowledge amongst the non-victims may be due to numerous reports of dog’s bites in Srinagar plus they were more educated. Factors infl uencing enhanced awareness and practices incorporated elevated socioeconomic rank and education signifying that the maximum menace of rabies is probable to fall on the mainly susceptible sectors of society, particularly poor members with slight or no proper education.