Rabies: Health-seeking behavior, compliance to post-exposure prophylaxis and out-of pocket expenditure of victims of animal bite

Abstract

Background: Rabies is one of the fatal diseases which is primarily a vaccine-preventable zoonotic disease transmitted to man usually by bites or licks of rabid animals. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the compliance and health-seeking behavior of the beneficiaries attending anti-rabies vaccination out patient department (OPD) of a tertiary care hospital along with the out-of-pocket expenditure required for vaccination. Materials and Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted in the anti-rabies vaccination (ARV) OPD of a tertiary care hospital in India. A total of 149 animal bite victims were included in the study. The beneficiaries coming for first and second doses in 1 month for Anti-Rabies vaccine were enrolled in the study and followed telephonically for 1 month for compliance with the ARV vaccines. Results: The median age of the study participants was 32 years ranging from 4 to 75 years. 73.8% were males, while 26.2% were females. A total of 26.84% did not follow the initial wound management protocol and the mean delay in seeking medical care was 22 ± 4.6 h. A majority (86%) were dog bites and 32.6% were found to be noncompliant to the schedule of the vaccination. The average out-of pocket expenditure borne by beneficiaries for getting vaccination was Rs. 462 ($5.54). Conclusions: A large number of victims of animal bite were not compliant with the schedule, and many had not completed the schedule. The out of pocket expenditure of the victims was high.

Keywords

• anti
• exposure prophylaxis-of
• out-pocket expenditure
• post-rabies-rabies vaccine