{"title":"A review of human dog-bite injuries in Kitui South subcounty, Kenya (2017-2021).","authors":"Peris Kung U, David Brodbelt","doi":"10.1002/vro2.72","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Dog bites continue to be a serious public health issue due to their association with the transmission of rabies virus. In Kenya, there are no studies estimating dog-bite incidence. Annual mortalities resulting from dog-mediated rabies are estimated at 523 (95% confidence interval 134-1100). The main objective of this study was to assess major risk factors associated with dog bites in Kitui South subcounty, Kenya, between 2017 and 2021.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We recruited 387 dog-bite patients (cases) and 387 non-bite patients (controls) for the case-control study from the Mutomo Mission Hospital and the Ikutha Level 4 Hospital records. Multivariable logistic regression analysis evaluated the association between risk factors and dog-bite cases. In the final model, pairwise interactions among variables were evaluated. The model fit was evaluated using receiver operating characteristics and area under the curve.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study found that the dog-bite incidence was highest in Kanziko ward in Kitui South subcounty. Fifty-one percent (108 bites) of dog-bite victims were children under 15 years of age, with 53% (<i>N</i> = 68) being men and 36% (<i>N</i> = 77) being bitten on the limbs. Dog bites mostly (44%, <i>N</i> = 93) occurred between October and December (short rainy season). Age group and season were identified as the most significant variables for high dog-bite incidence in Kitui South subcounty.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Promotion of responsible dog ownership and reinforcement of dog control policies may prove more effective in reducing dog-bite injuries in Kitui South subcounty.</p>","PeriodicalId":23565,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary Record Open","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.3000,"publicationDate":"2023-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10562654/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Veterinary Record Open","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1002/vro2.72","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2023/12/1 0:00:00","PubModel":"eCollection","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"VETERINARY SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction: Dog bites continue to be a serious public health issue due to their association with the transmission of rabies virus. In Kenya, there are no studies estimating dog-bite incidence. Annual mortalities resulting from dog-mediated rabies are estimated at 523 (95% confidence interval 134-1100). The main objective of this study was to assess major risk factors associated with dog bites in Kitui South subcounty, Kenya, between 2017 and 2021.
Methods: We recruited 387 dog-bite patients (cases) and 387 non-bite patients (controls) for the case-control study from the Mutomo Mission Hospital and the Ikutha Level 4 Hospital records. Multivariable logistic regression analysis evaluated the association between risk factors and dog-bite cases. In the final model, pairwise interactions among variables were evaluated. The model fit was evaluated using receiver operating characteristics and area under the curve.
Results: The study found that the dog-bite incidence was highest in Kanziko ward in Kitui South subcounty. Fifty-one percent (108 bites) of dog-bite victims were children under 15 years of age, with 53% (N = 68) being men and 36% (N = 77) being bitten on the limbs. Dog bites mostly (44%, N = 93) occurred between October and December (short rainy season). Age group and season were identified as the most significant variables for high dog-bite incidence in Kitui South subcounty.
Conclusions: Promotion of responsible dog ownership and reinforcement of dog control policies may prove more effective in reducing dog-bite injuries in Kitui South subcounty.
期刊介绍:
Veterinary Record Open is a journal dedicated to publishing specialist veterinary research across a range of topic areas including those of a more niche and specialist nature to that considered in the weekly Vet Record. Research from all disciplines of veterinary interest will be considered. It is an Open Access journal of the British Veterinary Association.