Animal Bite Surveillance Data Quality at Primary Health Centres of Hassan District

As animal bite surveillance provides the first step in identifying the need to prevent animal bite and rabies in humans, this study is undertaken to explore the quality of surveillance data available at primary health centres.

A Cross sectional study was carried out among the primary Health Centres of Hassan District, which has 8 talukas and 134 Primary Health Centres. Seven Primary Health Centres from each of the eight talukas across the district were visited and data was collected through record review and interview from the designated staff on a predesigned Proforma.

All 57 (100%) of the Primary Health Centres recorded the demographic information. None recorded the place of bite, 53(92%) recorded the animal biting the victim and 1(2%) of them tried to understand if the biting animal was rabid. However, 19(33%) of the centres classified the wound into 3 categories. Only 2(3%) of centresadvised wound wash at the centre and 12(21%) offered antiseptic application but all 57(100%) the provided vaccine irrespective of category of bite and rig administration were done in none. Completion of PEP prescription was observed only in 35% of records. No action was taken to reduce the animal bite incidence at the population within the preview of Primary Health Centres

District Health Authorities should take measures to improve data collection for action and appropriate treatment of animal bite cases at primary health centres.