To study the treatment compliance among the animal bite patients attending anti rabies clinic in a tertiary care hospital, Solapur

Abstract

Background: Rabies is 100% fatal zoonotic disease. In India majority of the disease is caused by bite of dogs, whereas bite of several other animals like cats, donkeys, monkeys, pigs, jackals and wolves can cause rabies. Post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) effectively prevents the occurrence of rabies in the exposed person. Hence the current study is done to know the treatment compliance among the patients attending Anti rabies clinic.Methods: It is hospital based longitudinal study. Data was collected through personal interview from January 1st 2013 to December 31st 2013 and clinical examination was done. All patients were registered and were given first dose of ARV at the time of registration and advised to take all the remaining doses as per schedule. Data regarding their compliance for completion of vaccination schedule was analyzed. Statistical analysis was done by using simple proportions and percentages.Results: Out of 7205 patients, 5343 (74.15%) patients completed second dose, 5021 (69.68%) patients completed third dose and 2998 (41.6%) patients completed fourth dose of intradermal schedule of rabies vaccination and anti-rabies immunoglobulins were advised for 1536 patients among them 1180 (76.82%) patients took immunoglobulins.Conclusions: Most of the patients are not completing ARV intradermal schedule. Hence the animal bite patients should be motivated effectively through health education by interpersonal communication at the time of initiation of vaccination course about timely and complete administration of anti - rabies vaccination to attain the goal of Rabies free India.