i Rabies-Related Knowledge, Practices and Determinants of Dog Vaccination among Residents and Dog Owners of Kakamega County, Kenya

Abstract

Rabies, a vaccine preventable disease, is considered a zoonotic disease of great public health importance due to its near 100% case fatality rate once clinical signs develop. The domestic dog is considered the main cause of rabies transmission. The objective of this study was to investigate rabies related knowledge, practices and determinants of dog vaccination among residents and dog owners of Kakamega County. This was a cross-sectional cluster survey with two stages of sampling based on the World Health Organisation Expanded Program on Immunization coverage. A total of 390 study participants were enrolled and data collected using a structured questionnaire. Using a set of six questions, respondents’ knowledge of rabies was assessed and scored out of 11. A score above sample mean of 7.0 (±2.8) was considered significant. Respondents’ practices towards rabies were assessed using a set of four questions scored out of 10. A score above sample mean of 6.3 (±1.2) was considered significant. Data analysis was done using Epi Info version 7.0 for Univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis. Males recruited for this study made up 52.6% (205/390) of all respondents with 185 (47.4%) Females interviewed. The mean and median ages were 42.64 and 40.5 years respectively with an age range of 18-99 years for all respondents. Forty seven percent of all study participants had attained upper primary education. Majority (61%) were self-employed. In term of dog ownership, 338/390 respondents owned a dog and out of these only 35.2% (119/338) had dogs that had been vaccinated within the last twelve months. Participants who were classified as having adequate knowledge of rabies after scoring were 261/390 (67%). Participants with adequate knowledge on rabies were more likely to have proper health seeking practices (139/390) and proper handling practices of suspected rabid dog (327/390). Bivariate analysis was performed using the dog vaccination status as the outcome variable at 95% Confidence Interval and p<0.05 as the level of significance. Factors significantly associated with a respondent having a vaccinated dog on included having formal employment (p<0.005), having secondary/tertiary education p<0.05), preparing food specifically for the dog p<0.05). xv Respondents whose dog had ever been implicated to bite someone p<0.05), those who knew location and number of government sponsored rabies vaccination clinics p<0.001) and that a dog can be vaccinated from as early as 3 months (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Having a vaccinated dog was associated with formal employment and having secondary or tertiary education, vaccination coverage was way below the recommended 70% for herd immunity. Knowledge of good animal welfare, location and number of vaccination clinics and age of first vaccination were significantly associated with having a vaccinated dog. Recommendation: the county government should increase employment opportunities or other income generating activities and literacy levels among the residents. Dog vaccination services be made more accessible in terms of frequency, and availability of government sponsored veterinary services.