Relationship of Socio-Demographic Profiles to the Knowledge on Rabies and Practices on Rabies Control Program of Selected Animal Bite Victims in Laguna, Philippines

Abstract

Relationship of socio-demographic profiles to the knowledge on rabies and practices on rabies control Program of selected animal bite victims in Laguna, Philippines was explored in this study. It determined the socio-demographic profiles of the respondents, and the knowledge on rabies and practices on rabies control program of selected animal bite victims were assessed. Furthermore, the relationship and significant relationships of the socio-demographic profiles to the knowledge on rabies and practices on rabies control program were analyzed. This study utilized descriptive correlational study surveying 244 animal bite victims from January to December 2015 in a 2nd Class Municipality in Laguna. Descriptive Statistics, Correlational Analysis and Chi Square Test were used to present and analyze the collected data. Results revealed that the mean age range of the victims was 27 years old. The youngest bite victim was one-year-old and the oldest was 85 years old. Majority (52%) of the animal bite victims were female and most (36.08%). In terms of educational attainment, the majority ( 21.72%) of the animal bite victims were high school graduates. Majority (175) of the animal bite victims were bitten by dogs. Knowledge and practices of animal bite victims ranged very good to excellent with a mean range of 3.47- 3.64, SD = 0.657-0.703. There was a very weak association of socio-demographic profile (age, sex, highest educational attainment) and type of animal who bit the victims to the knowledge of rabies, practices on the prevention and control of rabies. While there is an excellent knowledge and practices of animal bite victims on the control and prevention of rabies programs, there was generally a weak association on the socio-demographic profiles. In terms of relationship of the knowledge on rabies and practices on rabies control program, sociodemographic profiles, age, sex and highest educational attainment has significant relationship to the knowledge of animal bite victim on rabies while only the highest educational attainment has significant relationship to the practices on rabies control program.