Awareness of Rabies, Practices for Vaccination and Reducing Pet Population among Pet Owners in Minuwangoda Medical Officer of Health Area

Abstract

Background: Rabies is a serious zoonotic disease caused by a virus and is incurable, once symptoms develop in humans. Although dogs are the main reservoirs of the virus, pet owners can significantly help prevent human rabies by ensuring their pets are properly vaccinated. Objectives: To assess the awareness of rabies, practices and barriers for vaccination and reducing pet population among pet owners in Minuwangoda Medical Officer of Health (MOH) area in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 280 pet owners selected through consecutive and convenience sampling. Data on socio-demographics, rabies awareness, vaccination practices and barriers, and pet population control were collected using a pre-tested, validated, structured questionnaire from selected households. Data were analysed using SPSS version 26.0. Results: Of the participants, 57.5% were female, and 42.9% were educated up to advanced level. Almost all participants (97.1%) had heard about rabies, but only 52.1% knew that rabies is caused by a virus. Most (43.6%, n=122) of the participants knew that rabies cannot be cured once pets get infected but some (39.6%, n=111) believed that rabies can be treated successfully after symptoms appear on humans emphasizing the lack of health education. Overall, 46.1% had poor awareness regarding rabies as a transmissible and a fetal disease. In addition, 85% had vaccinated their pets and also 87.1% believed that rabies can be prevented by vaccination. Further, 61.8% mentioned sterilization as the most effective method for dog control but 36.4% were unwilling to sterilize their pets, 10.7% stated that the long distance to the vaccination site as a main barrier for vaccination. Conclusions: This study revealed that most respondents had poor knowledge on rabies as a fatal and transmissible disease, and many believed it could be cured after humans get infected. Although most participants vaccinated their pets, many were reluctant to sterilize them.