Rabies in the Endemic Region of Algeria: Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) Survey among University Students

Simple Summary This cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the knowledge, practices, and attitudes of university students in the endemic region of Algeria in regard to rabies in the remaining years before the plan to eliminate dog-mediated rabies concludes in 2030. This disease is still spreading in Algeria, killing around 15 humans and more than 380 dogs per year despite the panel of applied measures that have been put in place over multiple years. Overall, a medium level of knowledge was obtained among the 409 surveyed students, with low levels reported among certain categories, including students studying in other fields than medical sciences, and there were some gaps of knowledge in terms of disease transmission, symptoms and risk factors. Regarding their attitudes, if an overall positive attitude was reported, some negative attitudes were also observed, especially the belief in the necessity of killing dogs who bite someone regardless of their vaccine status (59.2%). The importance of bite-wound washing is still ignored by most students. These results suggest the need to increase the level of knowledge of the Algerian students, and the public in general, in regard to this deadly disease through awareness campaigns.Abstract (1) Background: Rabies is a neglected zoonosis considered to be one of the most significant health threats in the world, responsible of thousands of deaths globally. Algeria is one of the main countries of concern, with more than 15 deaths and more than 100,000 bites by rabid-suspected animals being reported annually. This study was conducted to evaluate the level of knowledge, attitudes and practice (KAP) toward this disease among university students in the endemic region of Algeria. (2) Methods: a cross-sectional online survey was conducted between June 2023 and March 2024 using a self administered questionnaire. (3) Results: a total of 409 students completed the questionnaire. Overall, 91.2% of them were singles, 70.7% were females, and two-thirds (66%) were between their twenties and thirties in regard to age. The majority were studying for Bachelor's degrees, and the most represented fields of study were Humanities (31.5%) and Natural and Life Sciences (29.1%).The findings revealed a moderate level of knowledge (63% of correct responses), a positive attitude, and appropriate practices. However, the surveyed students have certain gaps in their information regarding disease transmission, its risk factors, and its clinical signs. In addition, some of them have also shown some negative attitudes, including approving of the systematic killing of a dog who bites someone regardless of its vaccine status (59.2%), and inappropriate practices, especially in regard to unawareness of the importance of early washing of bite wounds, which was reported among 64.5% of the surveyed students. The study also revealed the association of health sciences education with knowledge (AOR: 2.723, CI 95%: 1.317-5.634), attitude (AOR: 2.306, CI 95%: 1.113-4.779) and practice (AOR: 3.560, CI 95%: 1.632-7.769), and the effect of the high level of knowledge on the attitude of surveyed students (AOR: 1.607, CI 95%: 1.052-2.456). (4) Conclusion: These results provide the first report regarding rabies KAP among Algerian university students. Based on these results, the health deciders could adopt their preventive strategy by raising awareness of the less-informed categories, which would consequently affect their behaviors regarding this fatal disease.