TITLE:
Rabies by Dog Bites in Benin: Determinants of Good Knowledge of the Rabies Risk among Subjects Exposed in the Plateau Department in 2023
AUTHORS:
Benoit Sedegnon Agossoukpe, Finagnon Armand Wanvoegbe, Georgia Barikissou, Ignace Coovi Nonwanou Tokpanoude, Elvire Se Djossou, Phinées Adegbola, Gilchrist Mègnisse Orphé Laly, Tagnon Gautier Raphaël Gnonlonfoun, Badirou Aguemon
KEYWORDS:
Rabies, Determinants, Knowledge, Associated Factors, Benin
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Epidemiology,
Vol.14 No.2,
May
29,
2024
ABSTRACT: Rabies, a viral zoonosis, is one of the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that mainly affects poor and vulnerable populations. Human rabies is endemic in Benin. Although listed among the notifiable diseases, it nevertheless remains a neglected and under-reported disease. The objective of this study was to investigate the determinants of knowledge of rabies risk among subjects exposed to human rabies by dog bites in the Plateau department of Benin. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with an analytical aim which involved a sample of 900 people aged at least 18 years old chosen randomly and residing in the Plateau department for at least six months. A pre-tested and validated digital questionnaire served as a data collection tool. Data analysis was done with R 3.4.1 software. The prevalence ratio was used as a measure of association. The confidence threshold was set at 5%. We carried out a multiple logistic regression using the likelihood ratio (top-down approach) in order to identify the main factors which influenced the good knowledge of human rabies in the population of Plateau. Results: In the study population, 80.89% of the subjects surveyed lived in a rural area. The sex ratio (Male/Female) was 1.11. The average age of the subjects was 40.24 ± 14.52 years. The prevalence of dog bites was 4.11% (95% CI = [3.00; 5.63]) or 37 subjects bitten. After evaluation of knowledge of rabies risk in the study population, the main factors which positively influenced good knowledge of human rabies were age (p linear trend