Assessment of Community’s Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices towards Rabies in and around Jigjiga, Somali Region, Ethiopia

Rabies is a zoonotic viral disease. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of the community in Jigjiga and its surroundings. A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to July ۲۰۲۲. For this study, ۳۸۴ individuals were participated. Of the respondents ۶۸.۲% were males. Of the participants ۵۲.۱% were secondary school.  Of the respondents, ۸۷.۲% had no dogs, and ۶۹% had awareness of rabies. Of the participants, ۷۳.۷% said that only dog is affected by rabies, and about ۵۰% understood the mode of transmission.  Majority (۸۳.۶%) knew that rabies is a fatal disease, and nearly ۷۵% knew that rabies could be prevented by vaccination while ۱۰.۹% preferred holly water as a treatment. When they suspect a rabid dog, ۸۶.۲% suggested that they would kill the animal while ۹.۴% preferred to do nothing. There was a significant association between KAP score with occupation (χ۲ = ۱۰۷.۲۴, p < ۰.۰۰۰۱), educational status, (χ ۲ = ۲۸۴.۴, p = ۰.۰۰۱), religion (χ ۲ = ۲۴.۰۳, p = ۰, ۰۰۰۱), residence (χ ۲ = ۱۵۴.۶۵۴, p = ۰.۰۰۰۱), age (χ ۲ = ۲۰۲.۶۱۳, p < ۰.۰۰۰۱), household size (χ ۲ = ۹۸.۵۳۳, p = ۰.۰۰۰۱) and dog ownership (χ ۲ = ۲۴.۳۱۱, p = ۰.۰۰۰۱).  In conclusion, this study showed that rabies was well-known in the study region. The KAP level of rabies in the community of Jigjiga was found to be good although there were still some gaps. The educational status and occupation of the respondents were found to have a scientific association with good KAP score. Increasing awareness programs and conducting regular prevention and control interventions were suggested.