Knowledge Assessment of Dog Bite and Rabies Management among Health Workers in the Border Region of Timor-Leste
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59096/osir.v19i3.281458Keywords:
rabies, Timor-Leste, healthcare workers, knowledge assessment, dog bite management, public healthAbstract
Objectives: Rabies emerged as a significant public health threat in Timor-Leste following the first laboratory-confirmed outbreaks in 2024. The Região Administrativa Especial de Oé-Cusse Ambeno (RAEOA) border region has been disproportionately affected, recording over 800 dog bite cases and five human deaths between 2023 and 2024. This study assessed healthcare workers’ (HCWs) knowledge of rabies transmission, prevention, and dog bite management to identify gaps and strengthen the local health response.
Methods: A quantitative knowledge survey was conducted from 14 to 22 April 2024. Using convenience sampling, data was collected from 164 HCWs across seven health facilities in the RAEOA region. Descriptive statistics were presented, while inferential analysis using Analysis of Variance was performed to examine differences in knowledge scores across professional cadres and health facilities.
Results: The mean age of the 164 participants was 34 years (SD 8.84). Nurses (25.6%) and allied technicians (20.1%) comprised the largest professional groups. Overall knowledge was high, with a mean score of 80%; 37.2% achieved a perfect score of 17/17. Significant differences in knowledge scores were observed by profession (p-value 0.018) and workplace (p-value 0.006), with doctors and midwives achieving the highest mean scores. However, only 40.8% of respondents correctly identified rabies’ near-100% fatality rate, and only 71.9% knew Category III wounds should not be sutured.
Public Health Recommendations: HCWs in the RAEOA region demonstrated strong knowledge of rabies transmission, prevention, and management. However, disparities across professional cadres and health facilities underscore the need for targeted, continuous training, equitable resource distribution, and strengthened surveillance systems. Rabies control efforts should adopt a One Health approach integrating human health surveillance, dog vaccination, and cross-border coordination.
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