Factors influencing delay in initiating post-exposure prophylaxis for rabies prevention among animal bite victims: A cross sectional study

Rabbanie Tariq Wani; Iqra Nisar Chowdri; Hibba Dar

doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_890_20

Factors influencing delay in initiating post-exposure prophylaxis for rabies prevention among animal bite victims: A cross sectional study

J Family Med Prim Care. 2020 Sep 30;9(9):4751-4755. doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_890_20. eCollection 2020 Sep.

Authors

Rabbanie Tariq Wani¹, Iqra Nisar Chowdri¹, Hibba Dar²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Srinagar, Kashmir, India.
² Department of Pharmacology, Government Medical College, Srinagar, Kashmir, India.

Abstract

Background and aims: The aim of this study was to identify the delay and the factors associated with delay in initiating post exposure prophylaxis.

Methods: A consecutive sampling method was proceeded, and 199 patients attending the anti-rabies clinic with a history of animal bite reported at SMHS Hospital were the subjects of the study.

Results: Majority of the patients (72.36%) reported a delay within 6 h after exposure, 18.59% within (6-48) h and 9.04% after 48 h of exposure.

Conclusion: Increasing the number of accessible anti-rabies clinics as well as increasing the awareness among general public about timely post exposure prophylaxis in the community are some of the factors that need to be implemented.

Keywords: Post-exposure prophylaxis; prevention and control; rabies.