Knowledge and practices regarding rabies among multipurpose workers of Bishnupur District, Manipur: A cross-sectional study

Background: Approximately 20,000 deaths due to rabies are reported in India every year, which accounts for 36% of the total rabies-related deaths in the world. Inadequate awareness regarding rabies among grassroot-level health workers is a major contributor to the high incidence of rabies infection and subsequent human mortality in India. This study was conducted to assess the knowledge and practices regarding rabies among multipurpose workers of Health and Wellness Centre-Sub Health Centres (HWC-SHCs) in Bishnupur District, Manipur. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, including all the multipurpose workers of HWC-SHCs in Bishnupur district. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire through face-to-face interviews and were summarized using descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation [SD], and percentages). The association between variables of interest was analyzed using the Chi-square test. Results: A total of 55 health workers participated in the study, of which 69.1% were females ( n = 38). The mean (SD) work experience of the participants was 15.88 (5.3) years. About 10.9% ( n = 6) of the participants had adequate knowledge regarding rabies. Conclusion: Only one in every ten participants had adequate knowledge regarding rabies. It is necessary to conduct educational programs on rabies, focusing on multipurpose workers who act as the first point of contact of the health system with the community.