Rabies Prevention in Practice, Awareness, Immediate Bite Response, Care-Seeking, and Barriers among School-Aged Children and their Parents in San Pablo City, Laguna.

Rabies remains a critical public health concern in the Philippines, particularly among school-aged children who are at increased risk because of frequent contact with domestic and stray animals. This study assessed the awareness, immediate bite response, care-seeking behavior, and perceived barriers to rabies prevention among Grade 5 pupils and their parents in San Pablo City, Laguna. A descriptive, comparative, and cross-sectional research design was employed, involving 302 Grade 5 pupils and their corresponding parents. Data were gathered using a structured questionnaire that examined participants’ knowledge of rabies transmission, prevention practices, immediate wound management, care-seeking intentions, and barriers to treatment. Findings revealed that most participants demonstrated a high level of awareness regarding rabies, with 71.19% of pupils and 75.83% of parents recognizing dog bites as the primary mode of transmission. However, misconceptions persisted, particularly among pupils, regarding the possibility that apparently healthy animals could still transmit rabies. Although most respondents expressed a strong intention to seek medical care following an animal bite, with 90% of pupils and 85% of parents indicating they would visit a health facility, deficiencies remained in recommended first-aid practices, including proper wound washing and avoidance of traditional remedies. Financial constraints, reported by 60% of parents, fear of vaccination, and limited access to healthcare facilities were identified as the major barriers to timely treatment. The findings indicate that awareness alone is insufficient to ensure appropriate preventive behaviors. Strengthening school- and community-based health education, correcting misconceptions, improving access to affordable post-exposure prophylaxis, and promoting collaboration among healthcare providers, educational institutions, and local government units are essential to enhance rabies prevention and encourage timely responses to potential rabies exposure.