Community-based Evaluation of Health-seeking Behavior of People with Animal Bite Injuries in a District of Sri Lanka
Introduction Of the 55,000 deaths per year due to rabies, 56% occur in Asia and 44% in Africa. Despite the existence of the national rabies control program in Sri Lanka, rabies is still prevalent, suggesting that animal bite victims may have failed to observe the proper first aid measures and seek i...
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| Published in | Kokusai Hoken Iryo (Journal of International Health) Vol. 23; no. 3; pp. 173 - 179 |
|---|---|
| Main Authors | , , , , , , , , , , , |
| Format | Journal Article |
| Language | English |
| Published |
JAPAN ASSOCIATION FOR INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
2008
日本国際保健医療学会 |
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| ISSN | 0917-6543 |
| DOI | 10.11197/jaih.23.173 |
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| Abstract | Introduction Of the 55,000 deaths per year due to rabies, 56% occur in Asia and 44% in Africa. Despite the existence of the national rabies control program in Sri Lanka, rabies is still prevalent, suggesting that animal bite victims may have failed to observe the proper first aid measures and seek immediate medical treatment. The purpose of this study is to describe the health-seeking behavior among animal bite victims of a selected population in Kandy District, Sri Lanka. The influences of subjects’ demographic characteristics to these behaviors were studied. Methods We conducted face-to-face interviews in May 2006 among households with family members having history of animal bite injuries. Data on health-seeking behaviors such as first aid measure application, immediate medical consultation, and completion of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) were obtained. The association between behaviors and demographic characteristics were evaluated using Chi-square test or the Fisher’s exact test. Results Of the 6968 sample population, 357 (5.1%) had history of animal bites one year prior to the survey. Most of the subjects performed first aid measures (n=297, 83.2%) and sought medical treatment (n=319, 89.4%) within 24 hours (n=295, 82.6%) of the injury. Only 9.8% (n=35) of the subjects completed the PEP. There was no association between health-seeking behavior and demographic characteristics. Two subjects died having symptoms that resembled rabies without completing the necessary PEP, and two animal specimens were sent for laboratory testing that confirmed one case of feline rabies one year prior to the study. Conclusion In general, the health-seeking behaviors of the subjects were not influenced by their demographic characteristics which may contribute to greater difficulties in controlling rabies. To strengthen the rabies control program, effective education of both the public and health sectors by thorough and adequate wound washing, and strict adherence with the recommended treatment schedule is of paramount importance. |
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| AbstractList | Introduction Of the 55,000 deaths per year due to rabies, 56% occur in Asia and 44% in Africa. Despite the existence of the national rabies control program in Sri Lanka, rabies is still prevalent, suggesting that animal bite victims may have failed to observe the proper first aid measures and seek immediate medical treatment. The purpose of this study is to describe the health-seeking behavior among animal bite victims of a selected population in Kandy District, Sri Lanka. The influences of subjects’ demographic characteristics to these behaviors were studied.Methods We conducted face-to-face interviews in May 2006 among households with family members having history of animal bite injuries. Data on health-seeking behaviors such as first aid measure application, immediate medical consultation, and completion of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) were obtained. The association between behaviors and demographic characteristics were evaluated using Chi-square test or the Fisher’s exact test.Results Of the 6968 sample population, 357 (5.1%) had history of animal bites one year prior to the survey. Most of the subjects performed first aid measures (n=297, 83.2%) and sought medical treatment (n=319, 89.4%) within 24 hours (n=295, 82.6%) of the injury. Only 9.8% (n=35) of the subjects completed the PEP. There was no association between health-seeking behavior and demographic characteristics. Two subjects died having symptoms that resembled rabies without completing the necessary PEP, and two animal specimens were sent for laboratory testing that confirmed one case of feline rabies one year prior to the study.Conclusion In general, the health-seeking behaviors of the subjects were not influenced by their demographic characteristics which may contribute to greater difficulties in controlling rabies. To strengthen the rabies control program, effective education of both the public and health sectors by thorough and adequate wound washing, and strict adherence with the recommended treatment schedule is of paramount importance. Introduction Of the 55,000 deaths per year due to rabies, 56% occur in Asia and 44% in Africa. Despite the existence of the national rabies control program in Sri Lanka, rabies is still prevalent, suggesting that animal bite victims may have failed to observe the proper first aid measures and seek immediate medical treatment. The purpose of this study is to describe the health-seeking behavior among animal bite victims of a selected population in Kandy District, Sri Lanka. The influences of subjects’ demographic characteristics to these behaviors were studied. Methods We conducted face-to-face interviews in May 2006 among households with family members having history of animal bite injuries. Data on health-seeking behaviors such as first aid measure application, immediate medical consultation, and completion of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) were obtained. The association between behaviors and demographic characteristics were evaluated using Chi-square test or the Fisher’s exact test. Results Of the 6968 sample population, 357 (5.1%) had history of animal bites one year prior to the survey. Most of the subjects performed first aid measures (n=297, 83.2%) and sought medical treatment (n=319, 89.4%) within 24 hours (n=295, 82.6%) of the injury. Only 9.8% (n=35) of the subjects completed the PEP. There was no association between health-seeking behavior and demographic characteristics. Two subjects died having symptoms that resembled rabies without completing the necessary PEP, and two animal specimens were sent for laboratory testing that confirmed one case of feline rabies one year prior to the study. Conclusion In general, the health-seeking behaviors of the subjects were not influenced by their demographic characteristics which may contribute to greater difficulties in controlling rabies. To strengthen the rabies control program, effective education of both the public and health sectors by thorough and adequate wound washing, and strict adherence with the recommended treatment schedule is of paramount importance. |
| Author | D. D. Niranjala De SILVA OBAYASHI, Yoshihide DISSANAYAKE, D. R. Anuruddhika TAMASHIRO, Hiko MATIBAG, Gino C. KUMARASIRI, Pallegoda V. R. G. S. Panduka De S. GUNAWARDENA KAMIGAKI, Taro KANDA, Koji WIJEWARDANA, Thula G. DITANGCO, Rossana A. KALUPAHANA, Anil W. |
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| References | 3) Public Health Veterinary Services, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka. National rabies control programme: Statistical bulletin. 2003. 13) Official Website of Sri Lanka. Local government authorities directed to vaccinate dogs instead of killing. 13 Jun 2006. [cited 19 May 2007] Available at: URL: http://www. priu.gov.lk/news_update/Cur rent_Affairs/ ca200606/20060613local_govt_authorities_ directed_vaccinate_dogs.htm 15) Perera J. Animal welfare Authority Bill handed over to Sri Lankan President. 2006. The Buddhist Channel. [cited 2007 Mar 23]. Available at: http://singaporecommunitycats.wordpress. com/2006/06/27/animal-welfare-authority-bill-handed-over-to-sri-lankan-president 2) Knobel DL, Cleaveland S, Coleman PG, Fèvre EM, Meltzer MI, Miranda MEG, et al. Re-evaluating the burden of rabies in Africa and Asia. Bull World Health Org. 2005 83: 360-70. 9) World Health Organization. WHO recommendations on rabies post-exposure treatment and the correct technique of intradermal immunization against rabies. 1996. WHO/EMC/ ZOO/96.6. 12) Sunday Observer. Improving standards of animal welfare. 7 Aug 2005. [cited 19 May 2007] Available at: URL: http://www.sundayobserver. lk/2005/08/07/fea03.html 11) Tamashiro H, Matibag GC, Ditangco RA, Kanda K, Ohbayashi Y. Revisiting rabies in Japan: is there cause for alarm? Travel Med Infect Dis. 2007 5: 263-75. 4) Public Health Veterinary Services, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka. National rabies control programme: Statistical bulletin. 2004. 17) Dutta JK. Rabies presenting with priapism. J Assoc Physicians India. 1994 10:00.00 8) Current WHO guide for rabies pre-and post-exposure treatment in humans. WHO Department of Communicable Diseases Surveillance and Response. [cited 25 Nov 2005]. Available at: URL: http://www.who.int/rabies/en/WHO_guide_ rabies_pre_post_exp_treat_humans.pdf 16) Prabhakar VR, Abraham RNM. A case of difficult diagnosis of rabies in the absence of a dog bite in a patient with depression. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2006 18(3): 425-6. 10) Current WHO guide for rabies pre-and post-exposure treatment in humans. WHO Department of Communicable Diseases Surveillance and Response. [cited 2005 Nov 25]. Available at: URL: http://www.who.int/rabies/en/WHO_guide_ rabies_pre_post_exp_treat_humans.pdf 14) Palihawadana M. The Buddha was against animal sacrifice. 2006. The Buddhist Channel. [cited 2007 Mar 23]. Available at: http://www. buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=8,665,0,0,1,0 5) Goonaratna C. Sri Lanka. Human rabies. In: Dodet, B, Meslin F-X, editors. Rabies control in Asia. 1997 188-90. 18) Mitmoonpitak C, Tepsumethanon V, Wilde W. Rabies in Thailand. Epidemiol Infect. 1998 120:165-9. 7) Pinidiyapathirage MJ, Wimalaratne O. (2006) Appropriateness of rabies post-exposure treatment received by patients presenting to anti-rabies treatment unit. (2006) 16th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. [cited 2007 Feb 27]. Available at: URL: http:// www.blackwellpublishing.com/eccmid16/abstract. asp?id=49370 1) WHO Expert Consultation on rabies: first report. Geneva, World Health Organization. 2004. 6) Matibag GC, Kamigaki T, Kumarasiri PVR, Wijewardana TG, Kalupahana AW, Dissanayake DRA, De Silva DDN, Gunawardena GSP De S, Obayashi Y, Kanda K, Tamashiro H. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of rabies in a community in Sri Lanka. Environ Health Prev Med. 2007 12: 84-89. |
| References_xml | – reference: 6) Matibag GC, Kamigaki T, Kumarasiri PVR, Wijewardana TG, Kalupahana AW, Dissanayake DRA, De Silva DDN, Gunawardena GSP De S, Obayashi Y, Kanda K, Tamashiro H. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of rabies in a community in Sri Lanka. Environ Health Prev Med. 2007 12: 84-89. – reference: 11) Tamashiro H, Matibag GC, Ditangco RA, Kanda K, Ohbayashi Y. Revisiting rabies in Japan: is there cause for alarm? Travel Med Infect Dis. 2007 5: 263-75. – reference: 12) Sunday Observer. Improving standards of animal welfare. 7 Aug 2005. [cited 19 May 2007] Available at: URL: http://www.sundayobserver. lk/2005/08/07/fea03.html – reference: 3) Public Health Veterinary Services, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka. National rabies control programme: Statistical bulletin. 2003. – reference: 9) World Health Organization. WHO recommendations on rabies post-exposure treatment and the correct technique of intradermal immunization against rabies. 1996. WHO/EMC/ ZOO/96.6. – reference: 17) Dutta JK. Rabies presenting with priapism. J Assoc Physicians India. 1994 10:00.00 – reference: 4) Public Health Veterinary Services, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka. National rabies control programme: Statistical bulletin. 2004. – reference: 1) WHO Expert Consultation on rabies: first report. Geneva, World Health Organization. 2004. – reference: 2) Knobel DL, Cleaveland S, Coleman PG, Fèvre EM, Meltzer MI, Miranda MEG, et al. Re-evaluating the burden of rabies in Africa and Asia. Bull World Health Org. 2005 83: 360-70. – reference: 10) Current WHO guide for rabies pre-and post-exposure treatment in humans. WHO Department of Communicable Diseases Surveillance and Response. [cited 2005 Nov 25]. Available at: URL: http://www.who.int/rabies/en/WHO_guide_ rabies_pre_post_exp_treat_humans.pdf – reference: 7) Pinidiyapathirage MJ, Wimalaratne O. (2006) Appropriateness of rabies post-exposure treatment received by patients presenting to anti-rabies treatment unit. (2006) 16th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. [cited 2007 Feb 27]. Available at: URL: http:// www.blackwellpublishing.com/eccmid16/abstract. asp?id=49370 – reference: 8) Current WHO guide for rabies pre-and post-exposure treatment in humans. WHO Department of Communicable Diseases Surveillance and Response. [cited 25 Nov 2005]. Available at: URL: http://www.who.int/rabies/en/WHO_guide_ rabies_pre_post_exp_treat_humans.pdf – reference: 16) Prabhakar VR, Abraham RNM. A case of difficult diagnosis of rabies in the absence of a dog bite in a patient with depression. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2006 18(3): 425-6. – reference: 14) Palihawadana M. The Buddha was against animal sacrifice. 2006. The Buddhist Channel. [cited 2007 Mar 23]. Available at: http://www. buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=8,665,0,0,1,0 – reference: 13) Official Website of Sri Lanka. Local government authorities directed to vaccinate dogs instead of killing. 13 Jun 2006. [cited 19 May 2007] Available at: URL: http://www. priu.gov.lk/news_update/Cur rent_Affairs/ ca200606/20060613local_govt_authorities_ directed_vaccinate_dogs.htm – reference: 15) Perera J. Animal welfare Authority Bill handed over to Sri Lankan President. 2006. The Buddhist Channel. [cited 2007 Mar 23]. Available at: http://singaporecommunitycats.wordpress. com/2006/06/27/animal-welfare-authority-bill-handed-over-to-sri-lankan-president/ – reference: 5) Goonaratna C. Sri Lanka. Human rabies. In: Dodet, B, Meslin F-X, editors. Rabies control in Asia. 1997 188-90. – reference: 18) Mitmoonpitak C, Tepsumethanon V, Wilde W. Rabies in Thailand. Epidemiol Infect. 1998 120:165-9. |
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| Snippet | Introduction Of the 55,000 deaths per year due to rabies, 56% occur in Asia and 44% in Africa. Despite the existence of the national rabies control program in... Introduction Of the 55,000 deaths per year due to rabies, 56% occur in Asia and 44% in Africa. Despite the existence of the national rabies control program in... |
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| SubjectTerms | animal bites health-seeking behavior rabies Sri Lanka |
| Title | Community-based Evaluation of Health-seeking Behavior of People with Animal Bite Injuries in a District of Sri Lanka |
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