DO AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS IMPROVE COMMUNITIES KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND PRACTICES ON RABIES? A TWO-STAGE STUDIES IN MENABE REGION, MADAGASCAR

Rabies remains a public health concern in Madagascar, but its importance is often underestimated due to the under-reporting of cases and limited awareness of preventive measures. In order to solve these issues, diagnostic and surveillance methods have been implemented. Despite this, the unreported rabies cases have been rising.This study aimed to understand if awareness campaigns can improve communities knowledge, attitudes, and practices on rabies through operational research activities in Menabe region of Madagascar.In November 2020, a Baseline study was conducted among 342 participants, followed by an awareness campaign.Then an Endline study was carried out with 337 other participants in January 2021, to assess communitiesknowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to rabies in the same study areas. The same questionnaires were used to assess communities KAP. A significant improvement in participants KAP related to rabies was observed. The good knowledge average score increased from 36% to 61%, positive attitudes improved from 39% to 55%, and good practices increased from 7% to 81%. The participants mean KAP score increases from 27% at Baseline to 66% at Endline. Multivariable logistic regressions performed after both phasesrevealed that participants who heard or saw information about rabies during an awareness campaign had higher KAP levels compared to others. This study demonstrated the awareness campaign importance, and the need to continue and intensify efforts to raise rural communities awareness, by using mass communication methods such as radio broadcasts, video spots and flyers in local language to reach morepeople.