Knowledge of Nipah Virus and Associated Factors Among Rural Population in Bangladesh: Evidence From a Community‐Based Cross‐Sectional Study

Background and Aims Nipah virus (NiV) is a highly pathogenic zoonotic threat and posing serious public health risks in Bangladesh due to its high fatality rate, high transmissibility, and the lack of particular licensed vaccinations. Methods A community‐based cross‐sectional study was carried out among 415 adult rural respondents. Data were collected using a paper‐based structured questionnaire consisting of respondents' sociodemographic characteristics and knowledge‐related questions regarding NiV. Participants' sociodemographic characteristics and knowledge level were summarized using descriptive statistics, chi‐square tests, and multivariable logistic regression. The statistical significance level was set at p < 0.05, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results The mean age of participants was 37.56 ± 14.63 years, and 66.5% were male. Although 71.1% of participants had heard of the NiV, only 16.4% demonstrated good knowledge (≥ 65% of total score). The mean knowledge score was 7.99 ± 3.86. Knowledge was particularly limited regarding routes of transmission, including person‐to‐person transmission, clinical manifestations, treatment availability, and the ineffectiveness of antibiotics. In the adjusted analysis, participants aged 25–34 years (AOR = 2.85, 95% CI: 1.13–7.63), females (AOR = 2.73, 95% CI: 1.09–7.09), and those with graduation or higher education (AOR = 10.70, 95% CI: 2.10–67.70) were significantly more likely to have good knowledge. Conversely, participants who consumed fresh date palm sap had significantly lower odds of good knowledge (AOR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.17–0.68). Conclusion The rural respondents in this study area demonstrated inadequate awareness of the NiV. Participants' understanding of disease symptoms, treatment limitations, disease transmission, and prophylactic measures was remarkably poor. To prevent NiV transmission and outbreaks in Bangladesh, these findings highlight the significance of targeted, culturally appropriate, and community‐based health education programs that focus on safe date palm sap consumption, early symptom recognition, and other effective preventive measures.