Community knowledge, practices, and dog management toward rabies in Hung Yen province, Vietnam: Insights for strengthening One Health interventions toward the 2030 zero-death goal

Abstract

Background and aim: Rabies remains a fatal but preventable zoonotic disease causing nearly 59,000 human deaths annually worldwide, including approximately 75 cases/year in Vietnam. Despite the National Rabies Prevention and Control Program (2022-2030) targeting zero human deaths, community-level awareness and responsible dog management remain key determinants of program success. This study assessed knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to rabies prevention and dog management among residents of Hung Yen province.

Materials and methods: A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 210 residents from Khoai Chau, Van Lam, and Yen My districts between November and December 2022. Data were collected using a structured, pre-tested questionnaire covering demographics, rabies knowledge, and dog ownership practices. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were performed in R software, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results: Among 210 respondents, 82.4% had heard of rabies, and 60.7% demonstrated good knowledge. Most knew that dog bites transmit rabies (97.7%), but 39.9% were unaware that scratches can also cause infection. More than half (52.6%) still believed traditional remedies could prevent rabies, and 39.7% did not seek medical care after dog bites. Younger respondents (18-40 years) had significantly better knowledge (odds ratio = 1.90; p = 0.04). Among 85 dog owners, 82.4% vaccinated their dogs, yet 21.2% allowed dogs to roam freely, and 91.8% did not spay or castrate them. Higher socioeconomic status and urban residence were associated with better dog management practices.

Conclusion: Despite Hung Yen's low rabies fatality, notable gaps persist in community awareness and responsible pet ownership. Misconceptions about transmission routes and reliance on traditional treatment threaten progress toward the 2030 rabies-free goal. Strengthened One Health-based education, targeting older adults and low-income rural groups, is recommended to promote timely post-exposure prophylaxis and sustainable dog vaccination and population control programs.

Keywords: Hung Yen; One Health; Vietnam; dog management; knowledge; practices; rabies.

Figure 1

Study area: Hung Yen province in northern Vietnam (red circle) and Khoai Chau, Van Lam, and Yen My districts in Hung Yen (gray color). [Source: https://d-maps.com/carte.php?num_car=22381&lang=en].