Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Regarding Management of Dog Bite among Victims in Rural Area of District Ambala, Haryana

ARTICLEdog bites underscores the need for localized research to guide interventions and reduce rabies burden.The aims and objectives of the study were to assess the knowledge and attitude of dog bite victims regarding dog bites, to evaluate the practices adopted by individuals following a dog bite, and to determine their awareness about antirabies vaccines. IntroductIonAnimal bites, especially from dogs, contribute significantly to global morbidity and mortality.A dog bite is defined as tooth contact causing visible skin damage, excluding nonforceful mouthing. 1Rabies, a fatal viral disease affecting warm-blooded mammals, is primarily transmitted through bites from infected animals, such as dogs and cats, with the virus targeting the nervous system.Rabies is invariably fatal once symptoms appear, causing acute encephalitis. 2Despite being preventable, it causes 59,000 deaths and 3.7 million DALYs annually across 150 countries. 3 In India, 17.4 million dog bites lead to 18,000-20,000 rabies deaths each year. 4Between 2005 and 2020, India reported 2,863 rabies cases, with West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Delhi accounting for over 75%. 5 Around 76% of cases occur in rural areas, 4 where limited health care, widespread myths, and irregular vaccine supply hinder timely postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) access. 6The "United Against Rabies" initiative by WHO and partners aim to eliminate human rabies deaths by 2030 through vaccination, education, and community efforts. 7India's NAPRE 2018 outlines a national strategy to achieve this goal. 8KAP studies help assess public awareness and behavior on rabies, but limited regional data on