Rabies continues to be a significant health problem in India, with animal bites accounting for a large number of rabies exposures. Rabies is basically a zoonotic disease. Humans are the incidental host, domestic dog being the primary reservoir of the infection.¹ Globally, rabies deaths are rarely reported and children between the ages of 5-14 years are frequent victims (nearly 40%). Every year, more than 29 million people worldwide receive a post-bite vaccination.² This is estimated to prevent hundreds of thousands of rabies deaths annually. SPMC Bikaner plays a pivotal role in providing timely post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to those affected by animal bites. However, myths surrounding rabies transmission and improper wound management persist, leading to delays in treatment and increased risk of complications. This study investigates the prevalence of these myths and practices among individuals attending the clinic and their impact on health outcomes.

AIM:

This study aims to assess the common myths and unhealthy wound care practices among patients attending the Anti-Rabies Clinic at Sardar Patel Medical College, Bikaner.

This cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of 6 months (January 2024 to June 2024) at the Anti-Rabies Clinic SPMC Bikaner. The study aimed to assess the knowledge, beliefs, and wound care practices of patients presenting with animal bites. A total of 260 cases of animal bite who attended the Anti-Rabies Clinic SPMC Bikaner were studied for their knowledge, practices and health seeking behaviour towards animal bite with the help of a pretested, semi structured interview schedule. Inclusion Criteria required all individuals presenting with animal bites regardless of the type of animal while exclusion Criteria included individuals who did not provide consent for participation in study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The questionnaire was designed to assess the demographics (age, gender, occupation, rural/urban residence), myths related to rabies transmission, wound care practices following an animal bite, knowledge about the importance of immediate treatment. Data Analysis was performed using Epi-info software (Version 7.2.5.0). Results are presented as frequencies and percentages.

Table 1: Demographic Profile of Study Participants

Table 2: Prevalence of Myths Among Patients

Table 3: Unhealthy Wound Care Practices

Table 4: Barriers to Timely Treatment

In our study we assessed myths and unhealthy wound practices regarding animal bites among patients attending anti-rabies clinic at SPMC, Bikaner. 70% patients were male in our study. 39.23% of participants believed that only dogs could transmit rabies, and 23.46% believed that bites from cows and goats were harmless. These misconceptions could lead to delayed medical intervention, which is critical for rabies prevention. Improper wound care was common among patients, before coming to the health facility only 39.61 % of the subjects washed the wound with soap and water which was less (71%) as seen by Sharma et al.³Additionally, the application of traditional remedies like turmeric and ash was prevalent, despite their potential to cause infection or delay healing. Liu et al mentions that males are more likely to treat wounds improperly or do nothing after exposure which might involve several indicators in men’s decisions, comprising biological, psychological and sociological considerations.⁴  in our study 19.24% applied turmeric, chilli, ash on wounds. Jain et al mentioned 80% of the subjects applied chilli on the wound.⁵ Umrigar et al found 22% of the subjects used one or the other home treatments like chilli, turmeric, lime and salt etc.⁶These findings emphasize the need for educational programs to teach proper wound care and discourage reliance on unproven home remedies. Delays in seeking treatment were also common, with 42.30% of patients unaware of the severity of rabies. Moreover, some individuals believed that their animal bite was not from a rabid animal, which further delayed their decision to seek medical care. Financial constraints and the reliance on home remedies also contributed to these delays.

This study highlights significant gaps in knowledge and improper practices among individuals seeking treatment at the Anti-Rabies Clinic at SPMC Bikaner. Addressing these issues through targeted health education campaigns, promoting immediate medical care, and discouraging the use of traditional remedies could help improve patient outcomes. By tackling these myths and unhealthy practices, we can reduce the risk of rabies and other complications associated with animal bites.

Recommendations: Conduct educational Campaigns, community outreach programs, particularly in rural areas, to debunk myths about rabies transmission and emphasize the importance of proper wound care. Encourage patients to seek medical treatment immediately after an animal bite, regardless of the perceived severity of the wound. Provide free or subsidized rabies vaccination and wound care treatment for economically disadvantaged individuals. Train healthcare providers to recognize and address common misconceptions and unhealthy practices during patient consultations.

1. World Health Organization, 2024. Rabies in the South-East Asia Region. World Health Organization.
2. World Health Organization. Rabies. Geneva: WHO; 2013; Available at: http://www.who.int/media centre/factsheets/fs099/en/. Accessed on 30 november 2024.
3. Sharma S, Agarwal A, Khan AM, Ingle GK. Prevalence of dog bites in rural and urban slums of Delhi: A community-based study. Ann Med Health Sci Res. 2016; 6:115-9.
4. Liu Q, Wang X, Liu B, Gong Y, Mkandawire N, Li W, et al. Improper wound treatment and delay of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis of animal bite victims in China: Prevalence and determinants. Plos Negl Trop Dis. 2017;11(7):e0005663.
5. Jain P, Jain G. Study of general awareness, attitude, behavior, and practice study on dog bites and its management in the context of prevention of rabies among the victims of dog bite attending the OPD services of CHC Muradnagar. J Fam Med Prim Care. 2014;3(4):355-9.
6. Umrigar P, Parmar GB, Patel PB, Bansal RK. Epidemiology of animal bite cases attending municipal tertiary care centres in surat city: a crosssectional study. Nat J Community Med. 2013;4(1):153-7.