A Household Survey To Assess Knowledge, Attitudes And Practices Regarding Rabies Control Among Dog Owners In Omusati Region – Namibia

Abstract

Rabies is a viral zoonotic disease of warm-blooded animals caused by Lyssavirus of the Rhabdoviridae family that attacks the Central Nervous System, provoking fatal acute encephalitis. Domesticated dogs are the main vector, responsible for almost 99% of human rabies cases. Namibia with the rest of the world is engaged in fight to eradicate dog mediated rabies. There is a need to explore the knowledge gaps, attitudes and practices regarding rabies control among dog owners. The purpose of this study was to perform a household survey, assessing knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding rabies control among dog owners in the Omusati region, Namibia. The researcher applied a quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive, household survey on residents of five constituencies in Omusati region. The researcher employed a structured questionnaire translated in the local language (Oshiwambo). Participants were selected through a simple random sampling method, and one questionnaire was completed per selected household. The data was analysed through Epi-Info 7 and Microsoft Excel and arranged in descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages and proportion to determine the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice levels. The Chi-square test on categorical variable was used at p-value 0.005 statistical significance. A total of 342 respondents took part in the study; more than half (53%) were male and 50% had secondary education level and only 18% were employed. At least 98% of the respondents knew that rabies is a zoonotic disease and could identify the disease through local names; 55% had no knowledge that rabies is caused by a virus even though 67% were certain the diseases could be transmitted to human through rabid animal bites. Ninety percentages (90%) of the respondents knew that vaccination is the only form of prevention against rabies, and 96% would seek medical help at the hospital after an animal bite.