A Study on Assessment of Community Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Regarding Rabies in Ambo Town, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Rabies is a severe zoonotic disease with significant public and veterinary health consequences worldwide, including in Ethiopia.However, the study area's information on community awareness and prevention remains limited.A crosssectional study using a semi-structured questionnaire assessed knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to rabies among Ambo town residents to bridge this gap.384 randomly selected participants from six kebeles provided insights into their understanding and response to rabies.About 32.3% of respondents have awareness of zoonotic diseases with 82% recognizing rabies as a zoonotic disease.However, misconceptions persisted, including the belief that individuals bitten by rabid dogs could recover without significant effects (64.1%).While 93.8% acknowledged that rabies could be prevented through vaccination, only 25.8% were aware of post-exposure prophylaxis, and only 19.5% vaccinated their dogs.Rabies transmission through bites was widely recognized (75.8%), and a large proportion identified clinical signs in dogs, such as excessive salivation (52.9%).Regarding practices, 74.2% sought healthcare after a dog bite, but significant gaps were found in stray dog control and dog vaccination practices.Explanatory variables, such as gender (P < 0.041), age (P < 0.000), occupation (P < 0.000), educational level (P < 0.000), and pet ownership (P < 0.001), showed a statistically significant difference from important KAP-related questions.The aforementioned results underscore the necessity of focused educational initiatives to dispel misunderstandings, especially concerning topics like dog vaccination, stray dog control, and post-exposure prophylaxis.