Epidemiological Aspects and Compliance with Post-Exposure Prophylaxis of People Bitten by a Dog and Received at the Buanionzi State Health Center in Boma, DR Congo

Abstract

Objective: To describe and analyze the epidemiological aspects as well as the observance of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) of people bitten by a dog and received at the Buanionzi State Health Center from 2014 to 2017. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study which took place in two stages. The first interview was an interrogation carried out at the health Center until surgical trimming (100% of cases) followed by PEP (70.3% of cases) according to the Essen protocol. The second time was a 24 h telephone interview after a missed appointment for a dose of PEP. Results: The prevalence was 5.6 bites/10.000 people. The average age was 26.4 ± 18.3 years. Age ≤ 26 years was more concerned with 59.3% of cases (p = 0.006) in which children < 15 and 5 - 15 years old represented 60.5% (p = 0.003) and 57% (p = 0.04) of cases respectively. The male sex accounted for 55.9% (p = 0.009). Residents of Kabondo were the most affected with 40% followed by Kalamu with 29.7% (p = 0.003). 70.3% of people started a PEP (p = 0.01). Completeness was 1.9% and 78.4% received one dose of vaccine. Conclusion: The rabies risk is potential in Boma. Efforts in terms of public health strategies must be made to reduce it.