{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,30]],"date-time":"2026-10-30T02:26:45Z","timestamp":1793327205717,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":15,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,26]],"date-time":"2026-02-26T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1772064000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["TropicalMed"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Rabies remains a zoonotic public health problem in Ghana despite the availability of effective preventive measures, including mass dog vaccination and timely post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). We conducted a community-based cross-sectional mixed-methods study between June and December 2025 to assess rabies-related knowledge, risk perception, health-seeking behaviour following dog bites, and dog vaccination practices within a One Health framework. Structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with 450 adults from selected urban and rural communities in the Greater Accra, Ashanti, and Bono East regions, supplemented by focus group discussions. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariable logistic regression. Overall, 68% of respondents had heard of rabies; however, detailed knowledge of transmission and prevention was limited, with 189 (42.0%) correctly identifying dogs as the main source of transmission. Following suspected exposure, 162 (36.0%) reported using home remedies or traditional treatments. Dog vaccination coverage was 31.1%, below the level required to interrupt transmission. Educational level, place of residence, and prior dog-bite exposure were significantly associated with rabies knowledge, health-seeking behaviour, and vaccination practices (p &lt; 0.05). This study provides updated evidence on community rabies knowledge, risk perception, and preventive practices, highlighting behavioural and structural gaps that may hinder effective control in Ghana.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/tropicalmed11030063","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,26]],"date-time":"2026-02-26T11:23:45Z","timestamp":1772105025000},"page":"63","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Community Knowledge, Risk Perception and Health-Seeking Behaviour Toward Rabies in Ghana: One Health Implications"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-9515-3213","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Prince Kyere","family":"Dwaah","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Disease Investigation Farm\/Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Veterinary Service Directorate, Techiman P.O. Box 122, Ghana"},{"name":"Public Health Education Department, Faculty of Environment and Public Health Education, Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skill Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Kumasi P.O. Box 1277, Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nana Yaa","family":"Awua-Boateng","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Public Health Education Department, Faculty of Environment and Public Health Education, Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skill Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Kumasi P.O. Box 1277, Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3633-0410","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sylvia Afriyie","family":"Squire","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)\u2014Animal Research Institute, CSIR College of Science and Technology, Accra P.O. Box AH 20, Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ernest","family":"Osei","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Public Health Education Department, Faculty of Environment and Public Health Education, Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skill Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Kumasi P.O. Box 1277, Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"David","family":"Kando","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ghana Health Service, Municipal Health Directorate, Techiman 035 25, Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rogermilla Enam","family":"Dunu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Public Health Education Department, Faculty of Environment and Public Health Education, Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skill Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Kumasi P.O. Box 1277, Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Daniel","family":"Nartey","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Veterinary Service Directorate, Tema Metropolis Veterinary Service, Tema P.O. Box M161, Ghana"},{"name":"Department of Animal Science and Fisheries, School of Agriculture and Environmental Science, Evangelical Presbyterian University College, Ho P.O. Box HP 678, Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Helen","family":"Djang-Fordjour","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Applied Science and Technology, Sunyani Technical University, Sunyani P.O. Box 206, Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Patience","family":"Edze","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Public Health Education Department, Faculty of Environment and Public Health Education, Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skill Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Kumasi P.O. Box 1277, Ghana"},{"name":"Krowor Municipal Assembly, Environmental Health Officer, Accra 0524, Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,26]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2018). WHO Expert Consultation on Rabies: Third Report, World Health Organization. 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United Against Rabies: Zero by 30 Global Strategic Plan to End Human Deaths from Dog-Mediated Rabies by 2030, World Health Organization. Available online: https:\/\/www.who.int\/publications\/i\/item\/WHO-CDS-NTD-NZD-2018.04."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"148","DOI":"10.1016\/j.prevetmed.2010.07.003","article-title":"From \u201cOne Medicine\u201d to \u201cOne Health\u201d and Systemic Approaches to Health and Well-Being","volume":"101","author":"Zinsstag","year":"2011","journal-title":"Prev. Vet. Med."}],"container-title":["Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2414-6366\/11\/3\/63\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,26]],"date-time":"2026-02-26T11:54:28Z","timestamp":1772106868000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2414-6366\/11\/3\/63"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,26]]},"references-count":15,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3]]}},"alternative-id":["tropicalmed11030063"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/tropicalmed11030063","relation":{},"ISSN":["2414-6366"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2414-6366","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,26]]}}}