Perceptions and treatment seeking behavior for dog bites in rural Bangladesh

Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 2013 Mar;44(2):244-8.

Abstract

We conducted a study of the knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding dog bites among residents of a rural community in Bangladesh from September 2006 to February 2007 using face to face interviews with 1,973 adults from five villages. The mean age of the respondents was 34+/-16 years. Sixty-eight percent of subjects were female, 7.3% of respondents reported a history of dog bite in a family member; 10% had been bitten twice. Sixty-five percent of subjects were aware of rabies and 99.1% knew a dog bite was the cause of rabies. Seventy-one percent of subjects were aware of a rabies vaccine, 77.5% of respondents stated rabies can cause death. Ninty percent of dog bite victims received treatment by traditional healers, 25% were treated with a rabies vaccine and 2.1% of victims died. Greater awareness is needed in rural Bangladesh regarding prevention of rabies.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Bangladesh / epidemiology
  • Bites and Stings / complications
  • Bites and Stings / drug therapy*
  • Bites and Stings / epidemiology
  • Bites and Stings / psychology*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Dogs
  • Female
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Medicine, Traditional
  • Middle Aged
  • Perception
  • Rabies Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Rabies Vaccines / therapeutic use*
  • Rural Population*
  • Socioeconomic Factors

Substances

  • Rabies Vaccines