Assessment of knowledge regarding rabies and its prevention among the medical students of Government Medical College Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, India

Authors

  • Anjana Tiwari Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20181050

Keywords:

Knowledge, Rabies, Prevention, Medical students

Abstract

Background: Rabies is a fatal viral zoonotic disease. In India about 20,000 persons die of rabies annually. The aim of present study was to assess the knowledge regarding rabies and its prevention among the medical students.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among183 medical students of Government Medical College Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh during August 2017 to September 2017 using a pre-tested questionnaire. Data was entered and analyzed by using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage).

Results: It was seen that majority (83.1%) of medical students knew about the viral cause of rabies, 93.4% knew the dog as most common reservoir of rabies and 91.8% knew the most common mode of rabies transmission by bites of rabid animal. About three fourth (74.3%) of medical students knew that hydrophobia as the symptom of rabies in human. About danger sites of animal bite and fatality of rabies was known by 81.4% and 68.8% of medical students, respectively. Only 45.9% of medical students knew the correct incubation period of rabies. Majority (72.7%) of students knew about the immediate wash of the wound with soap and water but only 42.1% knew about antiseptic use. Majority (71%) of students knew the correct site and only 43.7% knew the correct schedule of vaccination. Only 29% of medical students knew about indication of rabies immunoglobulin.

Conclusions: There is a need to organize re-orientation programs and continuing medical education (CME) sessions on rabies and its prevention for medical students, at regular interval.

Author Biography

Anjana Tiwari, Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, India

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY MEDICINE

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Published

2018-03-23

How to Cite

Tiwari, A. (2018). Assessment of knowledge regarding rabies and its prevention among the medical students of Government Medical College Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, India. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 5(4), 1397–1401. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20181050

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Original Research Articles