A Study on Socio-Demographic Profile, Knowledge and Practice of Dog Bite Patients Registered at Rural Field Practice Area-Gims, Kalaburagi, Karnataka: A Cross Sectional Study

INTRODUCTION: Rabies is known as acute, highly fatal, hydrophobic viral disease of CNS system. Majority (99%) spread by Dog bite which is major public health problem in rural than urban area. In India17.4 million cases and 24,000 deaths occur every year, each second there is one dog bite. It is 100% preventable disease if all efforts must be made by the health system to prevent even a single case of rabies, by make plans and policies for its prevention under rabies control program. To look into socio-demographic profile, knowledge and practice among dog bite patients registered at PHC-Hiresavalagi, Hence the current study was taken. OBJECTIVES: To find the socio-demographic profile of dog bite patients. To assess the Knowledge and Practice of dog bite wound management among dog bite patients. METHODOLOGY:  A cross sectional study was conducted among alldog bite patients at rural health training centre, Hiresavalagi for period of 7 months by census sampling method. The data was collected by using a predesigned and pretested questionnaire A contact number was obtained from dog bite register, we conducted interview through telephone and who are not respondents to telephone we were approached directly.the data was entered into Microsoft Excel sheet and will be analysed using software SPSS version 16.0. RESULTS & CONCLUSION: Our study found that 106(93.8%),7(6.2%) was inadequate & adequate knowledge and 82(72.6%),31(27.4%) was inadequate& adequate practice respectively. Majority 76(67.2%) Patients completed course oftreatment,36(31.9%) was lost to treatment and follow up due to work load, out of station and 1(0.9%) developed new symptoms during the course of treatment. Various control and preventive measures are taken under rabies control program along with health education and promotion, among population by using mass medias, advertisements, role plays & skits at community level. To complete course of treatment strict guidelines should follow at all Health training centre, hospitals & peoples.