A retrospective epidemiological study of delay for updated Thai red cross intradermal anti-rabies vaccination schedule amongst animal bite cases attending ARV clinic at a tertiary care centre

Abstract

As per Drug Controller General of India (DGCI), the schedule recommended for intradermal rabies vaccination (IDRV) is updated Thai red cross schedule. This is four dose schedule, given on day 0, 3, 7 & 28 where day 0 is first day of vaccine. In spite of affordable price of the vaccine, the compliance to intradermal rabies vaccine was low. 3 The first 3 doses of IRDV are very crucial and should be given as close to original dates and preferably ABSTRACT Background: Rabies is an acute viral disease, which causes encephalomyelitis in virtually all the warm blooded animals, including man. Almost 20000 deaths occur in India. The present study conducted with objective to analyze the delays and compliance for anti-rabies vaccination as per schedule and its some factors among the animal bite cases. Methods: Retrospective cross sectional record based study of cases attended Anti-Rabies Vaccination (ARV) clinic during the period of April 2012 to March 2013. The data extracted from records included socio-demographic variables, animal bite history treatment received and completion of ARV schedule. Data entered and analyzed using SPSS 21. Results: Total of 3548 animal bite cases attended the ARV clinic. Out of these cases, 18.2 %, 20.3% and 14.2% of cases not reported on scheduled date for 2 nd , 3 rd & 4 th dose of ARV respectively. Only 34.3% of cases completed the schedule. Delay for receiving ARV among women, cases from rural area & class II animal bite was statistically significant. Conclusions: Counselling regarding follow up of ARV schedule at the time of first visit to the anti-rabies vaccine clinic must be strengthened to avoid poor compliance and delaying of schedule.

Anti-Rabies Vaccine Compliance and Knowledge of Community Health Worker Regarding Animal Bite Management in Rural Area of Eastern India

“…A similar result was reported by Salahuddin et al in Pakistan where 11.9% were category-III and 42.7% were category-II bites [ 19 ]. This result was contrasting with other studies done in this respect [ 10 , 18 , 20 ]. But the result was similar to that of a community-based study by Agarvval et al and Sahu et al in Lucknow [ 21 , 22 ].…”

“…Only half of the victims were compliant with ARV in our study. Similar results were observed in other Indian studies [ 10 , 16 , 20 , 22 ]. A higher percentage of ARV compliance was observed by Anandaraj et al in Karnataka and Domple et al in Maharastra [ 15 , 18 ].…”

“…Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) with ARV for rabies is believed to be one of the cost-effective methods of preventing death due to dog bite. Lack of PEP and poor compliance to ARV are the important reasons for rabies death [ 8 - 10 ]. Only 47.9% of the dog bite victims received ARV and half of them received rabies immunoglobulin [ 11 ].…”

Compliance to post-exposure prophylaxis among animal bite patients – A hospital-based epidemiological study

“…[ 11 20 ] However, Patil et al . [ 21 ] reported in their study that only 34.3% of the cases completed the full course of vaccination, which was low compared to the present study.…”

Treatment seeking behavior of the dog bite patients in Himachal Pradesh, India: a qualitative study

“…Sambo M et al and Patil et al show the similar results. 12,13 Patients bitten by the pet dogs only come to hospital when they were convinced by someone to take the treatment. Some irrelevant reasons also told by the patients that there was no one to accompany them for going to the hospital.…”