Key Findings
Mission Rabies and Dogstar Foundation conducted a successful vaccination campaign between June and September 2016, vaccinating over 7,800 dogs using both static point and door-to-door approaches.
Dogs that were young, in poor health, or lived far from static vaccination points were less likely to be brought for vaccination, while owners often reported being unaware of the vaccination campaign.
Data showed that in the Negombo region, most dogs were male and adult, with 69.8% being unneutered, and a significant portion of dog owners (42.6%) considering the procedure “unnecessary”.
Summary
Sri Lanka has long recognized the importance of controlling rabies, a disease that causes significant human and economic losses worldwide. Despite ongoing efforts, including rabies surveillance, awareness programs, and the availability of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) vaccinations, rabies remains a serious health concern in Sri Lanka. This persistence is partly due to insufficient dog vaccination coverage and lack of comprehensive data on dog demographics. A survey in 2014 indicated that dog vaccination coverage was only 48%, far below the threshold needed to effectively control rabies. Consequently, the Sri Lankan government and various organizations continue to seek effective strategies to increase vaccination rates and gather reliable data on dog populations.
The study, “Development of a High Number, High Coverage Dog Rabies Vaccination Programme in Sri Lanka,” aimed to fill the existing gaps by focusing on three primary objectives: estimating the vaccination coverage achieved during a mass vaccination campaign, analyzing the demographics of the local dog population, and identifying barriers to attendance at static vaccination points (SP). Achieving these objectives was essential for devising a more effective rabies control strategy and enhancing the success of future vaccination campaigns.
The Mission Rabies 2016 vaccination campaign in Negombo, Sri Lanka, was conducted between June and September and divided into two phases: static point (SP) and door-to-door (D2D) vaccination. Covering one of the largest hubs in Sri Lanka, the first phase of the campaign ran from June 15th to September 1st, during which 146 SPs were set up daily across different areas to maximize accessibility for dog owners. This strategy was based on insights from previous pilot campaigns. The second phase, from September 12th to 28th, involved D2D vaccination to reach dogs that were not brought to SPs, especially targeting free-roaming and owned dogs. A survey to assess vaccination coverage was conducted one day after the D2D phase. Data on vaccinated dogs, including their distribution, health, and demographics, were collected using a mobile phone application. This dual-phase approach ensured high coverage and comprehensive data collection.
Through this approach, the researchers found that Negombo had a dog-to-human ratio of 1:17, with most dogs being owned (83%) rather than strays. Notably, more female dogs were categorized as strays. In terms of confinement, 39% of the dogs were free-roaming, 40% were leashed or chained, and only 19% were confined inside. This presents a challenge since the majority of the dog population in Negombo was adult and non-sterilized (79%). When owners were inquired about their reluctance to sterilize their dogs, the most common reason given was the belief that the procedure was unnecessary, followed by a desire to breed the dog and religious or cultural beliefs. Such reasoning may also explain why female dogs were more likely to be neutered than male dogs.
The researchers also investigated the barriers that prevented owners from bringing their dogs to the static points (SPs). Regression analysis revealed that factors such as the distance from households to SPs, the age of the dog, and the dog’s health condition influenced the likelihood of attending SPs. Specifically, dogs that were young, in poor health, or lived far from SPs were less likely to be brought for vaccination. This highlighted the likelihood of misconceptions, such as the belief that dogs may be “too young to vaccinate.” On the other hand, owners identified the main barriers as unawareness of the campaign, unavailability, and difficulties in handling the dogs. This information is crucial for planning future campaigns to address these barriers and improve SP attendance rates.
Overall, the 2016 campaign successfully vaccinated over 7,800 dogs, achieving a vaccination coverage of 75.8%. This significant achievement demonstrated the feasibility of high-coverage vaccination campaigns in Sri Lanka.
Miscellaneous
Data From Study:
Rabies / Vaccination Campaigns / Sri Lanka (Negombo) 2016 Campaign
Year of Publication:
2019
External Link:
Sánchez-Soriano, C., Gibson, A.D., Gamble, L. et al. Development of a high number, high coverage dog rabies vaccination programme in Sri Lanka. BMC Infect Dis 19, 977 (2019).
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-019-4585-z