Adherence to Recommended Anti- Rabies Vaccine Schedule: A Rabies Clinic Based Study

Abstract

Background: Rabies, a fatal disease but preventable, requires proper management of the bite victim that includes post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) which is a multi-dose schedule extending to one month. Due to this long schedule patient adherence reduces and leads to associated mortality. The aim of the study was to assess the adherence of the animal bite victim to the ARV regimen.

Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective record-based study was conducted in the Rabies Clinic, GTB Hospital Delhi. All animal bite victims seeking PEP at Rabies clinic were given a unique Anti-Rabies Clinic (ARC) number and classified according to WHO guidelines, using the ARC number the cases were selected randomly and the details of the cases were taken from the PEP-register from December 2016 to January 2017.

Results: A total of 100 bite victims were assessed of which 73% were males. 43% of the victims completed their IDRV schedule of which 58.1% adhered to the schedule without any delays. Reported number of defaulters was 53. The age of the victim (p=0.037) and category of exposure (p=0.019) were found to have a statistically significant association with adherence to ARV regimen.

Conclusion: The completeness of IDRV schedule despite of being essential is being neglected by animal bite victims. Need of the hour is to raise awareness and provide effective counselling to prevent defaulters and finally rabies.