KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICES OF MOTHERS OF BARANGAY CALLAO, PEÑABLANCA, CAGAYAN ABOUT RABIES

Abstract

Rabies is one of the world's most neglected tropical illnesses and affects primarily the poor. As a matter of fact, although rabies is preventable, it is lethal once it is not prevented. According to recent data, 59,000 people have died as a result of rabies (56 percent in Asia) wherein there is 250-300 mortality in the Philippines alone. In this study, the researchers employed a descriptive correlational research methodology to assess the level of knowledge, attitude, and practices of mothers aged 18-45 years old in Barangay Callao, Peñablanca, Cagayan about rabies through the use of research questionnaires. This study found that mothers are knowledgeable, have a positive attitude, and have good practices when it comes to rabies. However, there are practices that are rarely done by the respondents such as updating the vaccination of the dogs and getting them registered and licensed by the proper authority. Nevertheless, their knowledge about rabies and their practices such as going to proper authorities like doctors/physicians and to hospitals and barangay health centers prevented them from having “tanduk” which is considered to be a traditional medicine for in rural areas is considered to be not recommended for treating rabies. This study is anchored to the different programs related with rabies management, preventon and control. Goal number 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals, "Assure Healthy Lives and Promote Well-Being for All at All Ages," aims to ensure everyone's health and well-being by 2030, including a strong commitment to eliminating AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and other infectious and noncommunicable illnesses epidemics. It also aspires to attain universal health coverage and ensure that all people have access to safe and effective medications and vaccines. Since rabies is considered to be a communicable disease, then it is also one of the diseases that the SDG aims to eradicate.The "Anti-Rabies Act of 2007," also known as Republic Act No. 9482, is a law that provides for the control and elimination of human and animal rabies, as well as prescribing penalties for violations and allocating funds to do so. This is the law that required the establishment of the National Rabies Prevention and Control Program, which acts as one of the main pillars of the Philippines' objective to eradicate rabies by 2020 and to declare the country rabies-free by 2022. According to the Philippines' Official Gazette, this initiative also intends to eliminate rabies as a public health issue by eliminating indigent cases for both humans and animals. There are certain policies and legislation that assist RA 9482's goal of eradicating rabies-related incidents. The Batas Pambansa Bilang 97 is the law requiring livestock, poultry, and other animals to be immunized against infectious diseases. This is in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture since it requires the Secretary of the DA to make animal and poultry immunization mandatory in order to eliminate the threat or even the presence of highly contagious animal or avian diseases in a certain area. Additionally, one of the themes of the National Unified Healh Research Agenda for 2017-2022 is the research to enhance and extend healthy lives through the prevention of the spread of the communicable diseases which includes rabies and other communicable diseases.