Department of Veterinary Services, Kwara State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ilorin, Nigeria.
Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
PLoS One. 2021 Mar 3;16(3):e0247523. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247523. eCollection 2021.
Rabies is a highly fatal disease that is endemic in Nigeria. The poor community awareness and knowledge of canine rabies have thwarted the realization of zero deaths from dog mediated human rabies. This study aimed to assess the awareness and knowledge of canine rabies in Kwara state. A total of 1,460 questionnaires were administered to respondents in the three senatorial zones of the state using open data kit (ODK) on mobile phones between September 2019 to January 2020. The rabies awareness rate was 38.1%. The mean knowledge score was 3.78 ± 2.15. Only 10.6% (n = 59/557) of the respondents had satisfactory knowledge of canine rabies. Respondents had poor knowledge of the mode of transmission, symptoms, prevention, and the control measures needed to eliminate canine rabies. Only 20.1% of respondents owned at least a dog. Dog owners were 3.85× (95% CI: 2.89, 5.13; p < 0.01) more likely to be aware of canine rabies and were 1.78× (95% CI: 1.22-2.60; p = 0.003) more likely to have satisfactory knowledge about canine rabies than non-dog owners. Respondents with tertiary education were at least 6.81× (95% CI: 4.24, 10.92; p < 0.01) more likely to be aware of rabies than respondents with no formal education. The findings of this study showed very low awareness and knowledge of canine rabies among residents of Kwara state. Mass sensitization of the populace on the dangers of rabies should be intensified. Such interventions should be targeted at the general public and dog owners.
狂犬病是一种在尼日利亚流行的高致命性疾病。由于社区对犬类狂犬病的认识和了解不足，导致无法实现零例由犬介导的人类狂犬病死亡。本研究旨在评估克瓦拉州居民对犬类狂犬病的认识和了解程度。2019 年 9 月至 2020 年 1 月，研究人员通过移动电话上的开放式数据套件（ODK），在该州的三个参议员区向 1460 名受访者发放了问卷。狂犬病知晓率为 38.1%。平均知识得分为 3.78 ± 2.15。只有 10.6%（n = 59/557）的受访者对犬类狂犬病有满意的了解。受访者对传播途径、症状、预防以及消除犬类狂犬病所需的控制措施了解甚少。只有 20.1%的受访者至少拥有一只狗。狗主人对犬类狂犬病的知晓率是其他受访者的 3.85 倍（95%CI：2.89，5.13；p < 0.01），对犬类狂犬病的满意知识率是其他受访者的 1.78 倍（95%CI：1.22-2.60；p = 0.003）。具有高等教育背景的受访者对狂犬病的知晓率至少是未接受正规教育的受访者的 6.81 倍（95%CI：4.24，10.92；p < 0.01）。本研究结果表明，克瓦拉州居民对犬类狂犬病的认识和了解程度非常低。应加强向民众宣传狂犬病的危害。此类干预措施应针对公众和狗主人。
