title: Post-exposure prophylaxis against rabies at two newly designated intradermal rabies vaccination clinics in Kerala, India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The two-site intradermal rabies vaccination (IDRV) regimen was recently introduced in Kerala. We aimed to determine factors associated with exposure of category III severity among patients seeking prophylaxis against rabies at IDRV clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  This hospital-based, cross-sectional study was done at two clinics in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire by direct interview and 320 patients were included. Bivariate analysis of quantitative variables was done using t-test and that of qualitative variables using chi-square test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean (standard deviation) age of patients was 32.4 (19.6) years. Among the 320 cases, 202 (63.1%) had category III exposure. Lower extremities were the most frequent site of exposure (146, 45.6%). The most frequent mode of exposure was being bitten by an animal (214, 66.9%), often a dog. Residence in rural areas, exposure to dogs and wounds on the extremities had a significant association with severity of exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Animal exposures were more among people from rural areas. About two-thirds of exposures which necessitated post-exposure prophylaxis were category III.
authors: Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. teenatixon@gmail.com
authors: Teena M
authors: TM
authors: J
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Mathew
authors: Anish T
authors: AT
authors: S
authors: Sujina C
authors: SC
authors: M
authors: R R
authors: RR
authors: Philip
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology; D002415:Cats; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D007271:Injections, Intradermal; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D056990:Post-Exposure Prophylaxis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011818:Rabies / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011819:Rabies Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011819:Rabies Vaccines