Two year prevalence of suspected rabid dog bites and the cost implications at Entebbe grade a referral hospital, Uganda

Abstract

Rabies remains an important but neglected disease in Africa and Asia. Disparities in the affordability andaccessibility of post-exposure treatment and the risks of exposure to rabid dogs result in a skeweddistribution of the disease burden across society; with the major impact falling on the rural poorparticularly children. Dog bites are the main source of human and animal rabies in Africa, Asia, andSouth America, and are economically significant. A dog bite victim pays for the mandatory PEP plusincidental costs including transport, food and accommodation making it very expensive. The studyestablished the two-year hospital-based prevalence for dog bites and estimated the economic costsincurred to access PEP at Grade A. Secondary data were obtained from the dog bite victims’ recordscaptured during PEP treatment. The records included the patient’s address, the region of origin orresidence, age, sex, incriminated animal species; and whether domestic or stray. A total of 3600 peoplereported animal bites in the two years; 90.5%, 7.8%, and 1.7% were bitten by dogs, cats and wild animalsrespectively. Majority of dog bite victims were males below 18 years. A dog bite victim spends USD91.177 - 288.234 to receive complete PEP treatment. Young males were at the highest risk of being bittenby dogs. High costs were incurred by the victims’ households. Mass dog vaccination must be intensifiedthroughout the country to prevent human exposure to rabies. Public awareness and education should beprioritized.