Evaluating adherence to government recommendations for post-exposure rabies vaccine among animal-bite victims: A hospital-based study in Bangladesh

Abstract

Rabies is a fatal but preventable zoonotic disease with an approximately 100% case fatality rate. The most common way to contract rabies is through the bite of a rabid animal. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) by vaccination and/or immunoglobulin therapy is the most effective measure for rabies prevention. The effectiveness of vaccination depends on the level of completion of vaccination. In Bangladesh, no previous studies were conducted to evaluate adherence to government recommendations for post-exposure rabies vaccine among animal-bite cases. We conducted a cross-sectional study to collect information about adherence to government recommendations for post-exposure rabies vaccine. A total of 457 animal bite victims were selected to collect data and follow up after one month of enrollment. The majority of participants (58%, n = 265, 95% CI: 53–63%) had a history of animal bites. Most of the participants (77%) were advised to receive three doses of vaccine and 100% of them completed 3—dose of vaccine. Among the 4—dose recommended group of participants (n = 105), 78% completed full vaccination. Of the 457 participants, 20% received post-exposure vaccine on the day of bite/scratch and the majority of the participants (66%, n = 303, 95% CI: 62–71%) received post-exposure vaccine on the day between the first and third day of bite or scratch. Increasing awareness of the importance of timely vaccination is the key to reducing the time gap between animal bites and intake of the first dose post-exposure vaccine.