Retrospective Study of Human Rabies Exposure and Associated Risk Factors in North-West Ethiopia

Background: Rabies, a zoonotic disease caused by the lyssavirus genus, is widely distributed and a significant cause of human death in Africa and Asia. The study aimed to investigate human rabies exposure and associated risk factors in Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: The study encompassed four zones, seven districts, and four kebeles from each district. Result: A total of 642 households were interviewed. In the current study, rabies exposure was revealed 10.47%. Over 98% of respondents displayed a strong understanding of rabies, with 99.69% correctly identifying rabies as a zoonotic disease. But, 80% of the interviewees trusted traditional medicine could treat rabies. Only 21.93% of the victims were taken post-exposure to prophylaxis. Dogs were the primary affected animals; (87.73%) of these 48.70% were bitten by their own dogs. Metema district was at a higher risk (p < 0.001) compared to the other six districts. Dog ownership (p