Investigating factors influencing rabies protective practices among dog owners in the endemic southern zone of sarawak, malaysia: establishing baseline data for future outbreak management

Background Since 2017, the state of Sarawak in Malaysia has been in a relentless battle to contain the rabies outbreak, with 79 recorded cases of human rabies and 72 fatalities. This study, therefore, is not just an investigation but a call to action to understand the factors influencing rabies protective practices among dog owners in the southern zone of Sarawak, Malaysia. Methodology This comprehensive study, conducted in the southern zone of Sarawak from January to August 2024, involved 295 dog owners aged 18 and above residing in urban and rural areas with diverse socioeconomic backgrounds and ethnic groups. Researchers used a range of statistical methods, including descriptive statistics, Pearson's chi-square, Fisher's exact test, and binary logistic regression to analyse data and identify predictors influencing rabies protective practices, with a significance level of p<0.05 for all analyses. The thoroughness of the study ensures the reliability of the findings. Results . Among the 295 respondents, the average age was 40.5 ± 13.5 years. The majority of respondents, 76 (25.8%), were aged 30–39 years. Of the participants, 164 (55.6%) were female, 109 (36.9%) were of Iban ethnicity, 130 (44.1%) had tertiary education, and 169 (57.3%) resided in rural areas. Regarding rabies awareness, 149 (50.5%) strongly agreed that dogs can spread rabies, while 115 (30.0%) agreed that the symptoms of rabies in dogs are easily recognisable. Additionally, 147 (40.8%) strongly supported the idea that vaccinating all stray dogs is the most effective way to control the spread of rabies. Good rabies protective practices were significantly associated with the level of knowledge (p < 0.001) and attitude level (p < 0.002). Specifically, those with good knowledge and a positive attitude were likelier to exhibit good rabies protective practices. Conclusion Strong knowledge, positive attitudes, and effective practices related to rabies prevention among dog owners in Southern Sarawak provide an opportunity for local government and non-governmental organisations to improve rabies control through community education, regular vaccination campaigns, and professional training. These efforts can help put an end to the rabies outbreak in Sarawak.