Dataset Information

Assessing the impact of public education on a preventable zoonotic disease: rabies.

ABSTRACT: Effective methods to increase awareness of preventable infectious diseases are key components of successful control programmes. Rabies is an example of a disease with significant impact, where public awareness is variable. A recent awareness campaign in a rabies endemic region of Azerbaijan provided a unique opportunity to assess the efficacy of such campaigns. A cluster cross-sectional survey concerning rabies was undertaken following the awareness campaign in 600 households in 38 randomly selected towns, in districts covered by the campaign and matched control regions. This survey demonstrated that the relatively simple awareness campaign was effective at improving knowledge of rabies symptoms and vaccination schedules. Crucially, those in the awareness campaign group were also 1·4 times more likely to report that they had vaccinated their pets, an essential component of human rabies prevention. In addition, low knowledge of appropriate post-exposure treatment and animal sources of rabies provide information useful for future public awareness campaigns in the region and other similar areas.

SUBMITTER: Hasanov E

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5851038 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Assessing the impact of public education on a preventable zoonotic disease: rabies.

Hasanov E E Zeynalova S S Geleishvili M M Maes E E Tongren E E Marshall E E Banyard A A McElhinney L M LM Whatmore A M AM Fooks A R AR Horton D L DL

Epidemiology and infection 20171222 2

Effective methods to increase awareness of preventable infectious diseases are key components of successful control programmes. Rabies is an example of a disease with significant impact, where public awareness is variable. A recent awareness campaign in a rabies endemic region of Azerbaijan provided a unique opportunity to assess the efficacy of such campaigns. A cluster cross-sectional survey concerning rabies was undertaken following the awareness campaign in 600 households in 38 randomly sele ...[more]

PMID: 29271331

Similar Datasets

Project description:Domestic animals can serve as consequential conveyors of zoonotic pathogens across wildlife-human interfaces. Still, there has been little study on how different domestic species and their behaviors influence the zoonotic risk to humans. In this study, we examined patterns of bat encounters with domestic animals that resulted in submission for testing at the rabies laboratories of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) during 2014-2020. Our goals were specifically to examine how the number of bats submitted and the number of rabies positive bats varied by the type of domestic animal exposure and whether domestic cats were indoor or free-roaming. The CFIA reported 6258 bat submissions for rabies testing, of which 41.5% and 8.7% had encounter histories with cats and dogs, respectively. A much smaller fraction of bat submissions (0.3%) had exposure to other domestic animals, and 49.5% had no domestic animal exposure. For the bat submissions related to cats, and where lifestyle was noted, 91.1% were associated with free-roaming cats and 8.9% with indoor cats. Model results indicated the probability of a rabies-positive bat was the highest with a history of dog association (20.2%), followed by bats with no animal exposure (16.7%), free-roaming cats (6.9%), cats with unspecified histories (6.0%) and the lowest probability associated with non-free-roaming (indoor) cats (3.8%). Although there was lower rabies prevalence in bats associated with cats compared to dogs, the 4.8 fold higher number of cat-bat interactions cumulatively leads to a greater overall rabies exposure risk to humans from any free-roaming outdoor cats. This study suggests that free-roaming owned cats may have an underappreciated role in cryptic rabies exposures in humans and as a significant predator of bats. Preventing free-roaming in cats is a cost-effective and underutilized public health recommendation for rabies prevention that also synergistically reduces the health burden of other feline-associated zoonotic diseases and promotes feline welfare and wildlife conservation.

Project description:BackgroundCervical cancer is one of the commonest female cancers in Ghana. However, it is preventable. Prevention through Human Papilloma Virus immunization and early detection by screening have their foundation in awareness and a good knowledge about the disease. Acquiring the right knowledge about cervical cancer should be earlier rather than later while mindsets are still being formed to translate into the right attitudes and behaviours later in life.MethodologyAn unpaired pre- and post-test quasi experimental study was conducted at two Ghanaian senior high schools. An educational intervention was carried out comprising a drama, PowerPoint lecture, question and answer session and cervical cancer information leaflet distribution. A self-administered questionnaire was given as a pre-test and repeated as a post-test after 3 months. The total score for each domain of knowledge tested was categorized into adequate knowledge (≥ 50%) and inadequate knowledge (< 50%).ResultsThe number of participants in the pre- and post-test were 1,107 and 1,276 girls respectively, with average age of 16 years. General knowledge on cervical cancer improved to 94.4% from 73% following the intervention, but only 46.2% said cervical cancer was curable following the education. Knowledge on symptoms improved from 78 to 87.1% and risk factor knowledge improved from 81.8 to 89.3%. After the intervention, 37% from an initial 42% still thought that having sex at a young age (adolescence) was not a risk factor. Screening and prevention knowledge improved from 82.9 to 91% but only 37.2% knew the recommended age to begin screening with pap smears, even after the education. Overall knowledge on cervical cancer after the education significantly improved from 79.1 to 92.3%.ConclusionKnowledge of cervical cancer among young girls in two High Schools, improved with the educational intervention. Areas of education to be emphasized are: cervical cancer is curable if diagnosed early, increased risk with early onset of sexual activity, and recommended age to start screening. Educating young girls on cervical cancer increases their awareness and gives them adequate knowledge which should influence their attitudes and behaviour towards cervical cancer in the future. It should be considered for adoption into high school curricula.

Dataset Information

Assessing the impact of public education on a preventable zoonotic disease: rabies.

Publications

Assessing the impact of public education on a preventable zoonotic disease: rabies.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets