Participation in mass dog vaccination campaigns in Tanzania: Benefits of community engagement.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Canine rabies causes about 59,000 human deaths each year globally but the disease can be eliminated by sustaining sufficient dog vaccination coverage over several consecutive years. A challenge to achieving high coverage is low participation of dog owners in vaccination campaigns. We explored whether and how previously identified contributory factors to low participation can be addressed through community engagement activities.

Methods

We engaged communities in two wards in Tanzania on dog behavior and handling, safe ways of interacting with dogs, and their perceptions of dog vaccination. We shared and elicited information from them through village meetings, video screenings, posters and leaflets and involved the leadership of one of the wards in planning and impl

SUBMITTER: Duamor CT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9616113 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature