Original Research Article
Year: 2019 | Month: April-June | Volume: 4 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 107-112
Post-Exposure Antirabies Vaccination Status Following Formal Health Education Sessions among Animal Bite Cases Attending Antirabies Clinic of a Rural Tertiary Care Institute of Haryana: An Observational Study
Dr Ramesh Kumar Verma1, Dr Jai Pal Majra2, Dr Babita3
1,3Associate Professor, 2Professor & Head; Department of Community Medicine, Bhagat Phool Singh Government Medical College for Women Khanpur Kalan Sonepat Haryana, India.
Corresponding Author: Babita
ABSTRACT
Background: Rabies is a highly fatal completely preventable viral zoonotic disease of the central nervous system occurring in more than 150 countries and territories. People who have been given health education are more likely to learn about healthy behaviors and communicate effectively with health care providers about their health related issues. Hence this study was planned among animal bite cases following formal health education sessions given in antirabies clinic to elicit out their post exposure antirabies vaccination status.
Methodology: Record based cross-sectional observational study, carried out among the new patients attended formal heath education session in anti-rabies clinic Bhagat Phool Singh Government Medical College for Women Khanpur Kalan, Sonepat during study period (1stJune 2017 to 31st December 2017). The study variables included status of animal, wound toileting done after animal bite, TT vaccination, and adherence to required schedule of post exposure antirabies vaccination. Percentages, proportions and chi square tests were applied for drawing inferences and obtaining conclusion [p value < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant].
Results: Majority of victims were males (62%) and major source of exposure was dog(91%). 78% cases reported were of category II and 70% animal bite cases had washed their wound after animal exposure. However 26% had applied topical applicants on their wound site. 139 (52%) animal bite cases following formal health education session had completed post exposure vaccination. The association of sex predilection, residential place and category of wound after animal bite with ARV completion was found statistically significant (p value < 0.05).
Conclusions: Formal health education sessions given to animal exposed cases improved the post exposure vaccination status. Strengthening on conducting regular formal health education sessions in the antirabies clinic as well as at the community level was to be done.
Key words: Formal health education session, animal bite cases, post-exposure vaccination status.