Compliance with Post-exposure Prophylaxis following Animal Bites among Rural Population attending a Rabies Clinic in Delhi
Abstract
Introduction: Rabies, an acute and exceptionally lethal viral disease affecting the central nervous system, is attributed to Lyssavirus type 1. In the battle against rabies, vaccination stands as the cornerstone strategy, bearing significant importance in preventing and controlling the disease. However, the persistent challenge of ensuring full compliance with vaccination completion warrants immediate attention.
Objective: To find out compliance with post-exposure prophylaxis following animal bites among the rural population in Delhi.
Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted at an anti-rabies clinic situated in a rural area of Delhi, India. The study population comprised patients who sought medical attention for animal bites between January 1, 2023 and February 28, 2023. Participants were identified from the clinic’s patient registry, and subsequent telephonic interviews were conducted to gather data on complete vaccination.
Results: The study enrolled 429 patients with animal bites, with males representing the majority (65.3%, n = 280). Compliance with the recommended vaccination regimen was concerning, as only 28.8% (95% CI: 24.6%-33.4%) of participants completed the full course, while 71.2% (95% CI: 66.6%-75.4%) did not comply. The category of bite was significantly associated with vaccination completion.
Conclusion: The prevalence of complete vaccination completion following an animal bite was alarmingly low, with a substantial majority (71.2%) of the studied population failing to adhere to the prescribed dosage regimen. This highlights the urgent need to enhance awareness and promote adherence to Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) protocols. It necessitates intersectoral collaboration and the establishment of integrated reporting systems to address this critical concern.
How to cite this article:
Sharma A, Debnath A, Kishore J, Mondal A, Yadav S, Gupta P. Compliance with Post-exposure Prophylaxis following Animal Bites among Rural Population attending a Rabies Clinic in Delhi. APCRI J. 2023;25(1):31-37.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/0973.5038.202306
References
Sharma S, Agarwal A, Khan AM, Ingle GK. Prevalence of dog bites in rural and urban slums of Delhi: a community-based study. Ann Med Health Sci Res. 2016;6(2):115-9. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
Sudarshan MK, Madhusudana SN, Mahendra BJ, Rao NS, Narayana DH, Rahman SA, Meslin FX, Lobo D, Ravikumar K, Gangaboraiah. Assessing the burden of human rabies in India: results of a national multi-center epidemiological survey. Int J Infect Dis. 2007;11(1):29-35. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
Madhusudana SN, Mani R, Ashwin YB, Desai A. Rabid fox bites and human rabies in a village community in southern India: epidemiological and laboratory investigations, management and follow-up. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2013;13(5):324-9. [PubMed]
[Google Scholar]
Venkatesan M, Dongre AR, Kalaiselvan G. An
epidemiological study of animal bites and envenomings
in a rural district of Tamilnadu, India. Online J Health
Allied Sci. 2014;13(4):4. [Google Scholar]
Hampson K, Coudeville L, Lembo T, Sambo M, Kieffer A,
Attlan M, Barrat J, Blanton JD, Briggs DJ, Cleaveland S,
Costa P, Freuling CM, Hiby E, Knopf L, Leanes F, Meslin
FX, Metlin A, Miranda ME, Muller T, Nel LH, Recuenco
S, Ruppercht CE, Schumacher C, Taylor L, Vigilato MA,
Zinsstag J, Dushoff J; Global Alliance for Rabies Control
Partners for Rabies Prevention. Estimating the global
burden of endemic canine rabies. PLoS Negl Trop Dis.
;9(4):e0003709. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
National Centre for Disease Control [Internet]. National
action plan for dog mediated rabies elimination from
India by 2030; [cited 2023 Feb 15]. Available from:
https://www.awbi.in/awbi-pdf/NationalActiopPlan.pdf
Krishnamoorthy Y, Vijayageetha M, Sarkar S.
Awareness about rabies among general population
and treatment seeking behaviour following dog-bite in
rural Puducherry: a community based cross-sectional
study. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2018
Jun;5(6):2557-63. [Google Scholar]
Wadde SK, Edake SS, Dixit JV, Nagaonkar AS. Noncompliance
of post exposure prophylaxis amongst
dog bite cases attending antirabies clinic of a tertiary
care hospital – a record based study. Natl J Community
Med. 2018;9(9):643-6. [Google Scholar]
Khokhar A, Meena GS, Mehra M. Profile of dog bite
cases attending M.C.D. dispensary at Alipur, Delhi.
Indian J Community Med. 2003;28(4):157-60. [Google
Scholar]
Domple VK, Doibale MK, Sonkar VK, Aswar NR, Khadilkar
HA, Jain SR. Treatment compliance of self-reported dog
bite cases attending outpatient department of tertiary
care hospital, Maharashtra. Int J Med Public Health.
;5(4):297-300. [Google Scholar]
Bedi R, Bedi DK, Tankha A, Choudhary V, Matoria RS.
Profile of animal bite cases attending anti rabies clinic
of JLN Medical College & Hospital, Ajmer. APCRI J.
;8(1):28-30.
Kinge KV, Supe AC. Epidemiology of animal bite cases
reported to anti-rabies vaccination OPD at a tertiarycare
hospital, Nagpur. Int J Med Sci Public Health.
;5:1579-82.
Ganasva A, Bariya B, Modi M, Shringarpure K.
Perceptions and treatment seeking behaviour of dog
bite patients attending regional tertiary care hospital of
central Gujarat, India. J Res Med Den Sci. 2015;3(1):60-
[Google Scholar]
Gadekar RD, Dhekale DN. Profile of animal bite cases
in Nanded District of Maharashtra State, India. Indian
J Fund Appl Life Sci. 2011;1(3):188-93.
