Abstract
Dog-incurred injury is a serious public health concern worldwide, especially for children, responsible for numerous infectious diseases, such as rabies. Our study aims to investigate the current status of dog-incurred injury and its prevention among special groups of children. A cross-sectional study was conducted among migrant children (MC) and non-MC, “left-behind” children (LBC) and non-LBC in two cities in southern China. A questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic data and experience with dog-incurred injury, to assess knowledge of dog behaviour and rabies prevention and attitudes in risk identification and practice in risk behaviour. A total of 9,380 children aged 6–19 years old participated in this study. The self-reported prevalence of overall lifetime dog-incurred injuries in MC was 19.4% (vs. 11.2% in non-MC, χ2 = 175.8) and LBC was 20.6% (vs. 13.5% in non-LBC, χ2 = 114.1). MC were more likely to provoke a dog before the injury happened (12.7% vs 11.0%), while LBC (13.3% vs. 10.7%) and non-MC (13.1% vs. 12.2%) did not manage their wounds (all P < 0.001). 45.6% of victims were alone when the attack happened. MC from other provinces who live in rural areas and LBC with their mother absent had the lowest levels of knowledge among the groups. Taken together, MC and LBC are at greater risk for dog-incurred injury. They had lower knowledge of and attitudes towards prevention and more high-risk behaviour. Therefore, an appropriate public health education intervention is needed for schoolchildren regarding the prevention and management of dog-incurred injury and disease.
Highlights
China has become the third-largest pet-owning country after the United States and Japan[1]
Migrant children (MC) refer to children of external workers, whose parents take them from other cities or provinces to their currently inhabited cities, which are inconsistent with their registered residence or birthplace
Playing with a cat or dog, or playing near a cat or dog. This is the first cross-sectional study based on specific populations to focus on the current status of dog-incurred injury and assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of MC and non-MC, and LBC and non-LBC
Summary
China has become the third-largest pet-owning country after the United States and Japan[1]. “Left-behind” children (LBC) refers to children whose parent or parents have left their hometown to earn a living elsewhere and cannot return home regularly, they lack long-term companionship and care from their parents, experience neglect and are vulnerable to psychological problems. MC and LBC are unable to obtain adequate and timely companionship and care from their parents due to personal or financial reasons, rendering them more vulnerable to psychological, social, and physical short- and long-term developmental issues[15,16]. A previous study has shown that parents working away from their hometown is a risk factor for dog-incurred injury among children[17]. It remains unknown whether migrant and LBC, two special groups, are more vulnerable to animal injuries. In this study, we primarily aimed to explore whether there was any difference in the characteristics of dog-incurred injuries between MC and non-MC, LBC and non-LBC and the special characteristics of the injuries according to group; secondly, to explore the differences of the knowledge, attitudes and practices towards dog-incurred injury prevention in different children groups
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