Improving awareness of rabies and free-roaming dogs in schools of Guwahati, Assam, India: exploring the educators' perspective.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Rabies poses a significant threat to public health in India, with schoolchildren comprising approximately 40% of mortality due to this zoonotic disease. Despite ongoing interventions in schools to increase awareness about rabies and free-roaming dogs (FRD), the incidence of dog bites and rabies cases among schoolchildren continues to rise. This study addresses the limitations of existing awareness programs by exploring educators' perspectives and proposing innovative, feasible, and cost-effective interventions in schools. METHODS: A three-day workshop involving 19 teachers from seven schools representing diverse socio-economic backgrounds by adopting a modified Delphi method to achieve consensus on interventions identified during the process. RESULTS: The workshop recommends (a) promoting awareness in morning assemblies, (b) starting a wall magazine on One Health, (c) distributing and displaying information, education, and communication (IEC) materials, (d) encouraging infographics, paintings, sketches, and reels, (e) integrating rabies-related topics in co-curricular activities, (f) initiating interdisciplinary projects focusing on rabies awareness (g) displaying in rabies awareness stalls during exhibitions/school functions, and (h) discussing in parent-teachers meets. CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies sustainable and pedagogically sound interventions to raise awareness about rabies and FRD in schools, contributing to the broader goal of reducing rabies-related mortality among school children.