Animal bite management practices: a survey of health care providers in a community development block of Haryana.
It is seen that outcome of animal bites is influenced by various factors including the treatment procedures practiced by health care providers (HCPs). A cross sectional study of health care providers was conducted during May 2000 in PHC Kurali and Naraingarh town of community development block Naraingarh in district Ambala, Haryana. A total of forty-four HCPs were interviewed at their health facility. They were asked about the qualification and number of years in practice. Health care providers were assessed for their knowledge regarding history taking, immediate management of animal bite, post bite anti-rabies treatment, follow up advice and availability of vaccines. Pre-exposure prophylaxis was known to 18.8% of HCPs. Fifty-nine per cent of HCPs were confident in managing dog bites and 93.1% knew about tissue culture vaccine. Vaccine cost was the commonest barrier (38.8%) in the management of animal bites. This study shows a gross difference between awareness and actual practice of management of animal bites.
Prasad
V S
VS
Department of Community Medicine, Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh-160 012.
Duggal
M
M
Aggarwal
A K
AK
Kumar
R
R
D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000600:supply & distribution; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D002162:Camelus; D002415:Cats; D002417:Cattle; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003150:Community Health Workers / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004285:Dogs; D000882:Haplorhini; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008487:Medical History Taking; D011818:Rabies / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011819:Rabies Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution; D012377:Rodentia
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D011819:Rabies Vaccines