Risk Factors Responsible for Canine Rabies in Zamfara State, Nigeria

Abstract

The global community aims to eliminate human deaths from dog mediated Rabies by 2030. For Nigeria, a rabies endemic country to join the list of countries that have successfully eliminated rabies, there is need for more risk factor studies that addresses her peculiar environment. This study identifies risk factors responsible for rabies cases in Zamfara, Nigeria. A cross-sectional descriptive survey was carried out among dog owners in Zamfara State by administering questionnaires. Seventy questionnaires were administered directly to dog owners across fourteen Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Zamfara state to identify the possible risk factors and IBM SPSS 21 was used to determine the relative risk of Canine Rabies incidence across the state when exposed to each of the identified risk factors. The knowledge of rabies is very poor (17%) among the dog owners, with only 9% of the total respondents that were able to describe the clinical signs and symptoms of the disease in dogs. Only 5% of the respondents have record of previous vaccination of their dogs against Rabies. Extensive system of management increased the risk of the disease among dogs of the state by 80% and caused its spread from infected to un-infected dogs. Risk factors identified could be likely hindrances to eradicating Canine Rabies in the State. It is hoped that results of this study will encourage other States to carry out similar investigation to aid understanding the sustenance dynamics of the disease.