Awareness of the Community towards Pets Vaccination in Puchong City, Malaysia

Abstract

Pets vaccination is important in preventing fatal and infectious diseases and reduce spreading of zoonotic diseases such as Rabies. Vaccination is done by injecting vaccines to trigger immune responses in the host. The aim of the study is to evaluate the awareness of community in Puchong city, Malaysia towards pets vaccination by measuring knowledge, attitude and practice level of immunization. The research was conducted through online survey using questionnaires in Google forms and distributed through social media such as Whatsapp and Facebook. The sample size was determined using 95% confidence level, 50% expected proportion, and accepted error level of 10%, so that a minimum sample size of 97 samples was obtained. A total of 267 respondents living in Puchong city were collected in the online survey. The data obtained were analyzed using the Chi-Square Test and Gamma Correlation Test to examine the relationship and strength of the correlation between characteristics, knowledge, attitude and practice of respondents towards vaccination. The results showed that the level of knowledge, attitude and practice of respondents were in good category. In this study, there was a significant relationship (p<0.05) and a weak correlation (0.10≤r≤0.29) between age and practice, education level and knowledge, education level and attitude, area and attitude, as well as pet ownership and attitude. This study shows that there is a significant relationship (p<0.05) and a moderate correlation (0.30≤r≤0.49) between knowledge, attitude and practice of respondents towards vaccination.

Vaksinasi hewan peliharaan penting untuk mencegah penyakit yang fatal dan menyular serta mengurangi penyebaran penyakit zoonotik seperti Rabies. Vaksinasi dilakukan dengan menyuntikkan vaksin untuk memicu respons imun pada inang. Tujuan penelitian adalah untuk mengevaluasi kesadaran masyarakat di kota Puchong, Malaysia terhadap vaksinasi hewan peliharaan dengan menilai tingkat pengetahuan, sikap dan perilaku imunisasi. Penelitian dilakukan melalui wawancara secara daring menggunakan kuesioner dalam Google form dan disebarkan melalui media sosial seperti Whatsapp dan Facebook. Besaran sampel ditentukan menggunakan tingkat kepercayaan 95%, proporsi dugaan 50%, dan tingkat kesalahan 10%, sehingga diperoleh besaran sampel minimum sebanyak 97 sampel. Sejumlah 267 responden yang tinggal di kota Puchong dikumpulkan dalam wawancara daring tersebut. Data yang diperoleh dianalisis menggunakan Chi-Square Test dan Gamma Correlation Test untuk menguji hubungan serta kekuatan korelasi antara karakteristik, pengetahuan, sikap dan perilaku responden terhadap vaksinasi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa tingkat pengetahuan, sikap dan perilaku responden berada dalam kategori baik. Dalam penelitian ini didapat hubungan yang nyata (p<0,05) dan korelasi yang lemah (0,10≤r≤0,29) antara usia dan perilaku, tingkat pendidikan dan pengetahuan, tingkat pendidikan dan sikap, daerah dan sikap, serta kepemilikan hewan peliharaan dan sikap. Penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa ada hubungan yang nyata (p<0,05) dan korelasi yang sedang (0,30≤r≤0,49) antara pengetahuan, sikap dan perilaku responden terhadap vaksinasi.