Community Health Nursing, JSS College of Nursing, Mysore
In this present scenario, rabies represents a serious threat to the health of people and animals. Rabies is a dangerous virus that is transmitted through the saliva of animals. The dog has been and still is the main reservoir of rabies in India1. More than 90% of all rabid animals reported to CDC each year occur in wildlife.
The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of awareness programme on knowledge and knowledge of practice regarding prevention and management of rabies among rural adults in selected rural areas of Mysore District".
A quasi experimental non equivalent pre-test and post-test control group design was adopted for the study. The samples were selected by non-probability convenience sampling technique. Eighty rural adults were selected for the study, 40 each in experimental and control group. The tools used for the data collection were proforma for selected personal variables, structured knowledge questionnaire and structured knowledge of practice questionnaire.
The data analyses were done by using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings of the study revealed that, there was significant difference between the mean pre-test and post-test knowledge and knowledge of practice scores which was statistically tested using paired ‘t’ test (t(39)=35.1633; P<0.05 and t(39)=25.42; P<0.05 for knowledge and knowledge of practice respectively) was found to be significant at 0.05 level of significance. The significance of difference between mean post-test knowledge and knowledge of practice scores among experimental and control group was statistically tested using independent ‘t’ test (t(78)=32.9149; P<0.05 and t(78)=24.74; P<0.05 for knowledge and knowledge of practice respectively) was found to be significant at 0.05 level of significance. The results of the study also revealed that knowledge and knowledge of practice of rural adults had no significant association with their selected personal variables except age in years with level of knowledge.
It was concluded that awareness programme was effective in increasing the knowledge and knowledge of practice of rural adults regarding prevention and management of rabies. Therefore the study recommends that, it is the need of this hour to organize health campaigns and awareness programme to sensitize rural adults to enhance the knowledge and knowledge of practice regarding prevention and management of rabies thereby reducing the mortality associated with rabies.
Rabies, Effectiveness, Rural adults, Knowledge, Knowledge of Practice
