Title : Empowering adolescents in Lucknow with rabies awareness: An interventional study
Abstract:
Introduction: Rabies, a viral zoonotic disease, causes fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, with a near 100% fatality rate once clinical symptoms appear. Despite effective vaccines and preventive measures, rabies remains a significant public health concern in India, particularly due to the prevalence of unvaccinated free-roaming dogs. This study aimed to assess the need for health education about rabies among adolescents in Lucknow and evaluate the impact of health awareness camps on their knowledge.
Methodology: Conducted in the rural and urban health centers of Lucknow, this single-arm interventional study involved 401 adolescents aged 10-19 years. A stratified multistage random sampling method was used, and data was collected via in-person interviews using a pretested questionnaire. Interventions included health awareness camps with lectures, demonstrations, and wall paintings. Data was analyzed using SPSS 29.0, employing the McNemar test and paired t-tests.
Results: Out of 401 adolescents, 199 in rural and 202 in urban areas completed the post-test questionnaire. In rural areas, awareness of rabies being 100% fatal increased from 9% to over 40%, and in urban areas from 12% to over 50%. Knowledge about proper wound management and the necessity of vaccination after animal bites also improved significantly in both areas. Overall mean scores of correct responses increased significantly from 11.22±4.66 to 25.83±0.60 in rural areas and from 12.46±6.10 to 24.70±8.13 in urban areas.
Conclusion: The study identified a critical need for knowledge about rabies among adolescents in Lucknow. Multipronged educational interventions along with repeated sensitization through wall paintings effectively enhanced knowledge about rabies, demonstrating the importance of targeted educational interventions in rabies prevention efforts. The findings suggest that comprehensive health education can significantly reduce rabies incidence and improve preventive practices among vulnerable populations.
