A Prospective Study of the Epidemiological Profile of Dog Bite Cases and Determinants of Anti-Rabies Vaccination Compliance at a Rural Health Training Center from a Medical College in Gujarat.

BACKGROUND

India is endemic for rabies, the most dreaded complication of animal bites which accounts for 35-40% of the world's rabies cases. The Anti-Rabies Vaccine (ARV) is the only proven way to prevent deaths due to rabies; however, its compliance is still a matter of concern. This study was conducted with objectives to (1) generate the epidemiological profile of dog bite cases and (2) assess the determinants of ARV compliance.

METHODOLOGY: A prospective study was conducted at a Primary Health Centre (PHC), also the RHTC of a medical college in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. All consecutive incident cases of animal bite registered at RHTC between May-Dec 2023 were included and followed for 60 days (post-bite). All cases, whether ARV compliant or not were approached by home visits or telephonic meetings. Data were collected using a pre-designed semi-structured questionnaire.

RESULTS

There were 221 cases of dog bites. Most involved were stray dogs 175 (79.2%). Bites occurred more in public places (75.1%), during the evening and early night hours, accounting for 42.5% of cases with a peak during September-November (45.2%). As for the treatment-seeking pattern, 40.7% did not do anything at home. Maximum cases were from category II 58.4%, followed by 30.3% and 11.3% cases from categories I and III. ARV was indicated in 196 cases; 121 (61.7%) of them fully complied with ARV. Reasons for non/poor compliance were feeling cured, being out of the station, and a lack of specific reasons. Important compliance determinants were the occupation of the case and the status of the animal vaccination.

CONCLUSION

Only 61.7% of cases had complete ARV compliance, highlighting compliance issues and the necessity of community-based awareness campaigns that emphasize wound care and ARV schedule completion.