Volume 1, Issue 2

Background: Rabies is a neglected, almost invariably fatal zoonotic disease that causes an estimated 59,000 human deaths annually worldwide. Ethiopia bears the secondhighest burden of rabies in Africa, with approximately 2,700 human deaths per year, yet community knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) in many rural districts remain unexplored. This study aimed to assess KAP towards rabies and identify associated risk factors among households in Kondala District, Western Ethiopia. Methods: A communitybased crosssectional study was conducted from October 2024 to October 2025 in Kondala District, Oromia Region. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 200 household heads. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire covering sociodemographics, knowledge (10 items), attitudes (4 items), and practices (5 items). KAP scores were categorised as “good” (≥60% correct/positive) or “poor”. Multivariable logistic regression was performed using STATA version 17 to identify factors associated with good KAP scores; statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: Only 52.0% of respondents were aware of rabies. Overall, 68.5% had good knowledge, 65.5% good attitude, and 68.0% good practice scores. Major misconceptions included: 70.0% believed that eating infected meat transmits rabies, and only 20.0% correctly identified animal bites as the primary transmission route. Although all respondents knew that postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) can prevent rabies after a bite, only 56.0% were aware of dog vaccination. Dog vaccination coverage was 0%, and 60.0% preferred herbal remedies over PEP after a bite. Younger age (18–30 years: adjusted OR=13.08, p=0.001), higher education (adjusted OR=24.50, p=0.004), and male sex (adjusted OR=2.51, p=0.003) were significantly associated with better KAP scores. Occupation, household size, religion, and dog ownership were not significant. Conclusions: Critical gaps in rabies KAP exist in Kondala District, characterised by widespread misconceptions, zero dog vaccination, and reliance on traditional remedies. Immediate, sustained public health interventions – including community education, free dog vaccination campaigns, and improved PEP accessibility – are urgently needed to prevent human rabies deaths.