Assessment of Community Knowledge on Rabies Prevention and Wound Care After Dog Bites in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Karachi

Background: Rabies is a preventable but fatal zoonotic disease. Dogs are responsible for almost all human rabies deaths worldwide. In Pakistan, tens of thousands of dog bites are reported annually, but public awareness of proper wound management and timely vaccination remains suboptimal. Objective: To evaluate the general public’s awareness of first-aid wound management and the fatality of rabies at a large tertiary care hospital in Karachi. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the outpatient department of tertiary care hospital Karachi, using a convenience sample of 275 non-healthcare participants. A self-structured questionnaire assessed socio-demographics, awareness of rabies, and knowledge of first-aid wound management. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 2021, applying descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Results: Most respondents were aware of rabies’ fatality and stated they would wash bite wounds with soap and running water. However, a considerable proportion reported applying herbal remedies or thought immediate suturing was necessary. Awareness of anti-rabies vaccination was high but inconsistent with reported practices. Conclusion: Although awareness has improved since earlier surveys at ASH, misconceptions persist. Targeted health education and locally relevant information, education, and communication (IEC) campaigns are urgently needed to strengthen correct first-aid practices and promote timely vaccination.