ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE REGARDING RABIES AND ITS PREVENTION AMONG THE MEDICAL STUDENTS OF GOVERNMENT MEDICAL COLLEGE, NALHAR, NUH

Abstract

Introduction : Rabies is a viral zoonotic disease with 100% fatality. Being a 100% preventable disease, it becomes imperative that the health care professionals including students pursuing MBBS course have an appropriate knowledge about the animal bite and prevention of rabies and be better equipped to tackle the menace more efciently. This study has been done to assess the knowledge and level of awareness regarding transmission, clinical sign and symptom, preventive measures, post prophylaxis wound management and use of RIG among 2nd year MBBS students of Shaheed Hasan Khan Mewati Government Medical College, Nalhar, Nuh post awareness session in the form of didactic lecture. Material And Methods: An observational study was conducted among the 2nd year MBBS students of SHKM GMC, Nalhar, Nuh in September 2019. A total of 83 participants were included in the study. Data was collected using performed questionnaire and analyzed using percentage method. Results:It was seen that the majority(74.69%) of medical students knew about the most common method of transmission of rabies virus by bites of rabid animal. About 83.13% of medical students knew hydrophobia as the symptom of rabies in human. Only 21.68% of students were aware of the fact that bite wound should not be cauterized while 10.84% of students knew the correct site of administration of RIG. Conclusion : Our study found most of the students were aware of the mode of transmission and clinical symptoms of rabies but few could correctly mention the fact about cauterization and correct site of administration of RIG. It is recommended that continuing medical education (CME) sessions on prevention and management of rabies for medical students be conducted regularly for better patient handling and management.