Knowledge and behavior about rabies prevention among children in Zhao-qing municipality

Objective To examine the risk behavior,post-exposure disposal,knowledge,attitude and knowledge sources related with rabies among children in Zhaoqing city and to provide basis for health education and intervention programs.Methods Stratified random sampling at city,county,township,and village-level was used to recruit 1 251 children from 6 primary schools in May 2008.Face-to-face interviews were used to collect information.Data were entered using Epidata and analyzed with SPSS.Results The history of exposure was different among the children in different districts(P < 0.01).The proportion of exposure was highest among children in villages(11.25%).The risk behaviors were more common and the time of playing with dogs and cats were longer among the childen in villages and townships compared to the children in the county or in the city.After bitten or scratched by dog or cat,many children went to visit a doctor or inform their caregivers.The children in the city had more knowledge about rabies than children in county or village(P < 0.01).The most common sources for knowledge on rabies was teachers,television and the family.Conclusion The exposures of dog bite or cat scratch were more common among children in countryside than those in urban areas.The knowledge on rabies were lower among children in countryside than those in urban areas.The health education programs should be targeted in countryside and the contents should focus on risk behaviors,the definition of exposure,and post-exposure disposal.