Knowledge regarding management of dog bite among mothers of school going children

  • Unique Paper ID: 191435
  • Volume: 12
  • Issue: 8
  • PageNo: 7398-7402
  • Abstract:
  • Background: The imperative to safeguard public health is a paramount concern for governments worldwide, with a particular emphasis on addressing the burgeoning challenge of dog bite incidents and subsequent rabies transmission. The stark reality of India's 2.2 million reported dog bite cases in 2024, resulting in 37 fatalities, underscores the gravity of this issue. Furthermore, the vulnerability of children under the age of 15, who comprised over 500,000 of the victims, highlights the need for targeted interventions. In the state of Kerala, the alarming statistic of 47 rabies-related fatalities over a four-year period, with Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts being disproportionately affected, serves as a clarion call for enhanced awareness and management strategies. Objectives: The study’s objectives were multifaceted, encompassing the evaluation of knowledge levels regarding dog bite management among mothers of school going children in selected community, identification of associations between knowledge scores and socio-demographic variables, and the development of an informative booklet on dog bite management. Methodology: A descriptive study was carried out among 60 mothers of school going children to evaluate knowledge regarding management of dog bite in Pananchery Gramapanchayath, Thrissur. Convenient sampling technique was used to enroll the mothers of school going children who met inclusion criteria. A Structured knowledge-based questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge level of samples. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics with SPSS software version 19. Result: The findings of the study were illuminating, revealing a significant knowledge gap among the participants. A substantial majority, 42 (70%) mothers, demonstrated low knowledge levels regarding dog bite management, while 17 (28.333%) mothers exhibited moderate knowledge, and a mere 1(1.6%) possessed adequate knowledge. Conclusion: The results underscore the imperative for targeted educational initiatives and awareness programs, tailored to the specific needs of this demographic cohort. By prioritizing health education and awareness, we can empower communities to take proactive measures in preventing dog bites and mitigating the risks associated with rabies transmission.

Copyright & License

Copyright © 2026 Authors retain the copyright of this article. This article is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

BibTeX

@article{191435,
        author = {Vineeth Gopi K and Archana K R and Betsy Sunny and Gopika M V and Harsha Mary V A and Jis D Veliyath and Jomol P J and Surya Mol R},
        title = {Knowledge regarding management of dog bite among mothers of school going children},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {8},
        pages = {7398-7402},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=191435},
        abstract = {Background: The imperative to safeguard public health is a paramount concern for governments worldwide, with a particular emphasis on addressing the burgeoning challenge of dog bite incidents and subsequent rabies transmission. The stark reality of India's 2.2 million reported dog bite cases in 2024, resulting in 37 fatalities, underscores the gravity of this issue. Furthermore, the vulnerability of children under the age of 15, who comprised over 500,000 of the victims, highlights the need for targeted interventions. In the state of Kerala, the alarming statistic of 47 rabies-related fatalities over a four-year period, with Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts being disproportionately affected, serves as a clarion call for enhanced awareness and management strategies. 
Objectives: The study’s objectives were multifaceted, encompassing the evaluation of knowledge levels regarding dog bite management among mothers of school going children in selected community, identification of associations between knowledge scores and socio-demographic variables, and the development of an informative booklet on dog bite management. 
Methodology: A descriptive study was carried out among 60 mothers of school going children to evaluate knowledge regarding management of dog bite in Pananchery Gramapanchayath, Thrissur. Convenient sampling technique was used to enroll the mothers of school going children who met inclusion criteria. A Structured knowledge-based questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge level of samples. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics with SPSS software version 19.
Result: The findings of the study were illuminating, revealing a significant knowledge gap among the participants. A substantial majority, 42 (70%) mothers, demonstrated low knowledge levels regarding dog bite management, while 17 (28.333%) mothers exhibited moderate knowledge, and a mere 1(1.6%) possessed adequate knowledge. 
Conclusion: The results underscore the imperative for targeted educational initiatives and awareness programs, tailored to the specific needs of this demographic cohort. By prioritizing health education and awareness, we can empower communities to take proactive measures in preventing dog bites and mitigating the risks associated with rabies transmission.},
        keywords = {Dog bite, knowledge, management, rabies, mothers of school going children.},
        month = {January},
        }

Cite This Article

K, V. G., & R, A. K., & Sunny, B., & V, G. M., & A, H. M. V., & Veliyath, J. D., & J, J. P., & R, S. M. (2026). Knowledge regarding management of dog bite among mothers of school going children. International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology (IJIRT), 12(8), 7398–7402.

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