A Retrospective Study Of Dogs Rabies, Vaccination Coverage And Challenges In Addis Ababa
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Date
2024
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Addis Abeba University
Abstract
A retrospective and cross-sectional study about the incidence of rabies and the coverage and barriers of rabies vaccination was conducted in Addis Ababa city from October 2023 to April 2024. The objective of this study was to assess the general condition of rabies and its vaccination coverage within Addis Ababa. Data was collected through surveys of dog owners and interviews with veterinarians in various sub-cities across Addis Ababa. Additionally, retrospective analysis of dog bite records from the Ethiopian Public Health Institute and canine vaccination data (2020- 2023) from the Farmers and Urban Agriculture Development Commission were employed. Out of the 206 dog owners who participated in the survey, the majority (66.5%) indicated that their dogs were fully vaccinated. Some of the significant barriers for dog vaccination acknowledged by respondents were poor knowledge of rabies, unrestricted dog movement, and lack of mass vaccination campaign. Interviewed veterinary professionals identified lack of equipment, coordination with other agencies and inadequate long-term planning as the major barriers for vaccination coverage. In Addis Ababa, 3,123 individuals were reported to be bitten by a suspected dog from 2019 to 2023 and overall incidence rate was found to be 12.45. In the same period 92.7% of the victims were reported to have received post-exposure prophylaxis. According to records from the Farmers and Urban Agriculture Development Commission, a total of 96,319 dogs received rabies vaccination in Addis Ababa during the period spanning from 2020 to 2023. In the present study, there was a significant increase in the number of human cases of dog bites receiving post-exposure anti-rabies vaccination. Additionally, this research revealed a lack of awareness regarding rabies vaccination, particularly notable in sub-cities like Arada and Lemi Kura. This study recommends for the scaling-up of periodic mass vaccination campaigns for dogs, coupled with one health initiatives and targeted restrictions on canine movement, as a comprehensive strategy for rabies control.
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Keywords
Addis Ababa, EPH, mass vaccination, Rabies, Retrospective