India has the highest incidence of human rabies within the world. Increasing awareness of the community regarding the disease ought to be thought for controlling the disease Knowledge, attitudes, and practice of the community on rabies are very important to stop the neglected deadly disease. The present study was carried in Srinagar district. Regarding the attitude of people, the interview schedule was formulated. As per Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), the city is divided into two divisions; four zones and 34 wards. To exploit the diversity of population response, all the four zones were considered for the present investigation. With regards to all dogs are dangerous just 28.75% agreed. When asked about stray dogs are vicious the majority, 65% agreed. About roaming of stray dogs unless they cause problems in human society few, 8.75% agreed. The majority, 70.62% didn’t agree about the person provoking the dog for an attack. Whilst 95.31% highlighted that stray dogs are a problem in Kashmir. When asked about the population of stray dogs the majority, 96.56% agreed that there are too many dogs in Srinagar. About leashing during an outbreak, the majority 63.75% agreed. The majority 76.87% were not aware of the killing of dogs was considered as a religious taboo. The attitude of the respondents was positive. The bulk of respondents believed that stray dogs are a public health problem in Srinagar. The attitude of respondents not allocating stray dogs to wander liberally, looking for medical attention if bitten by a dog is reflecting grassroots involvement in the control of rabies.

Keywords: attitude, dog bites, non victimized, rabies, srinagar

According to the World Health Organization, over 1.4 billion individual’s are at probable risk of rabies infection within the South-East Asia Region. This accounts for roughly forty-fifths of human deaths because of rabies worldwide. India has the highest incidence of human rabies within the world.¹ Stray dogs and probable jackals in India are the most important vectors or reservoirs that sustain the disease in humans and different animals through the bite of the infected ones. About 98% of animal bites in India are caused by dogs and cats.² The majority receive post-exposure prophylaxis however truth range remains lacking owing to lack of well-organized surveillance system.³ India has reported 20,000 human deaths each year.⁴ Increasing awareness of the community regarding the disease ought to be thought for controlling the disease.⁵ Knowledge, attitudes, and practice of the community on rabies are very important to stop the neglected deadly disease.⁶

The present study was carried in Srinagar district of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territories (Erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir State), India. The purpose is to know the attitude of people towards rabies and thereby the selection of such people comes in front which was done using the below-mentioned sampling plan within the Srinagar district. As per Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), the city is divided into two divisions, four zones and 34 administrative wards (Table 1). The four administrative zones are North, South, East, and West. To maximize the diversity of population response, all the four zones were considered for the present investigation. From each zone, 4 wards were selected randomly making a total of 16 wards. The wards that were selected were shown in the table 1 with yellow colour. From each randomly selected ward, 20 household irrespective of whether exposed to rabies/dog bite were selected as respondents for data collection (accidental sampling). Thus a total of 320 respondents were the sample size for investigating the attitude of rabies vis-a-vis dog bite exposure among the human population. Our appraisal consisted about polls that were worn to grab the study’s objectives. Five domains have been used to verify attitudes with regards to rabies protecting the first useful resource and scientific interest and motion closer to suspect rabid animals. On the whole attitude level of every domain was seen. Finally, the chi-square test was accustomed to inspecting the connection amongst variables and consequently, the files had analyzed the using of the SPSS 20.0 software.

With regards to all dogs are dangerous just 28.75% agreed. When asked about stray dogs are vicious the majority, 65% agreed. Only 25.31% agreed that dogs bark when they are frightened.  About attack for no reason the majority, 71.56% agreed. About roaming of stray dogs unless they cause problems in human society few, 8.75% agreed. The majority, 70.62% didn’t agree about the person provoking the dog for an attack. Whilst 95.31% highlighted that stray dogs are a problem in Kashmir. When asked about the population of stray dogs the majority, 96.56% agreed that there are too many dogs in Srinagar. About leashing during an outbreak, the majority 63.75% agreed. The majority 76.87% were not aware about the killing of dogs was considered as a religious taboo. The overall attitude level towards stray dogs was positive. Statistically there is a non significant difference amid varied zones. It is evident from the table 4 for supporting the rabies program the majority, 92.81% agreed. About 94.68% agreed it is a threat to human health. When asked about it is transmitted from dogs, therefore it should be controlled, the majority 93.12% agreed. Also 63.75% agreed that rabies can be effectively prevented by vaccination.  The majority 82.81% were willing to euthanize stray dogs for rabies prevention. When asked about educating people can prevent it, the majority 83.75% agreed. It is obvious to seek medical attention with rabies exposure, the majority 83.43% agreed. The overall attitude level towards rabies disease was positive. Statistically there is a non significant difference amid varied zones. When asked about educating children as it can act as a herd to awareness, most 93.43% agreed. With regards to insufficiency of legislation by the government regarding rabies, most 76.87% agreed. Regarding awareness of population in Srinagar about rabies, the majority 84.37% agreed. Limited budget is given to his hospital for dog bite cases, the majority 82.50% agreed. It is important to get assistance from the animal department if there is a rabid dog, the majority 83.43% agreed. If there is a rabies control program in Srinagar, the majority 92.81% agreed of supporting it. The overall attitude level towards awareness was positive. Statistically there is a significant difference amid varied zones.

Vaccines are not available throughout the year at the SMHS hospital, the majority 60.62% agreed. When asked about there is lone anti-rabies clinic in Kashmir at SMHS hospital, the majority 71.56% agreed. I would take vaccine if bitten by a dog, the majority 94.06% agreed. The majority, 91.56% responded optimistically about wound cleaning before reaching to the hospital. About the anti-rabies vaccine and its safety for prevention the majority, 64.06% agreed. The majority, 95.31% responded they will suggest surely rabies vaccine to others. The overall attitude level towards rabies vaccine was positive. Statistically there is a non significant difference amid varied zones. When asked about waste ads up to stray dog proliferation in Srinagar the majority, 93.43% agreed. Garbage is the main feeding place of dogs the majority, 93.75% agreed. The majority, 93.43% agreed for environment cleaning and sanitation. The majority, 72.81% didn’t agree about Srinagar municipal corporation is best to handle waste. The overall attitude level towards waste was positive. Statistically there is a significant difference amid varied zones. The overall attitude level was positive. Statistically there is a non significant difference amid varied zones (Tables 2-12).

Rabies is one of the dreadful diseases that attack humans. This sensitive apprehension, exceeding any accurate public health peril, is due to many factors that enclosed since rabies first gained its notion as suffering. The current issues symbolized that the attitudes of the respondent were positive. The bulk of respondents believed that stray dogs are a public health problem in the Srinagar and administration should recommend a dog population restraint program. This might be owing to improved communication plus information regarding their dwelling, counting dog bites as well. So, if anyone suffered a dog bite the people advise them to visit the Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital (SMHS). Respondents attitude of not allowing stray dogs to roam freely, seeking medical attention if bitten by a dog are excellent signs of the grassroots involvement in the control of rabies. The respondents alleged that the Department of Health’s target should be to condense the figure of human deaths from rabies. Thus it is very essential to create awareness in people. Community perception plus rational behaviors are essential factors to accomplish this purpose. The majority was in favor of the rabies control program. Though, their enthusiasm is not a promise about cooperating with the government in rabies control. The reason is there is no national rabies control program in Srinagar. The negative behaviors towards waste management could be due to more garbage and dogs that are found on the streets.

In conclusion, the attitude of the respondents was positive. The bulk of respondents believed that stray dogs are a public health problem in Srinagar. The attitude of respondents not allocating stray dogs to wander liberally, looking for medical attention if bitten by a dog is reflecting grassroots involvement in the control of rabies.

Thankfulness can by no means be articulated in words. I am thankful to god, devoid of whom all else counts for zilch. There are numerous hands and hearts behind this effort. I want to thank the subsequent persons for their individual assistance to the dissertation. I would like to utter my genuine admiration to my mentor Dr.Afzal Hoque Akand (Assistant professor of Division of Veterinary & Animal Husbandry Extension), whose precious advice and insight I could not have completed without, I can’t thank you enough. I am massively grateful to Dr. Abdul Hai Bhat for his direction, support and endurance for the conclusion of this study. To my advice-giving member Dr. Shabeer Ahmad Hamdani (Assistant professor of Division of Veterinary & Animal Husbandry Extension), for his incessant support and guidance in every step of this journey, I am perpetually grateful.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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