In rabies endemic areas, appropriate management of dog bites is critical in human rabies prevention. Victims must immediately wash bite wound for 15 minutes with water, soap, and a disinfectant before seeking medical care. This study investigated the epidemiology of dog bites and the determinants of compliance to these pre-clinical guidelines requirements among dog bite victims from high rabies-burden areas of Wakiso and Kampala, Uganda. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods study design was used. Quantitative data were collected from 376 dog-bite patients at two healthcare facilities. Qualitative data were also collected through 13 in-depth interviews with patients, healthcare workers, herbalists, and veterinarians. Qualitative data were analyzed using a deductive thematic approach. Generalized linear models were used to determine factors associated with compliance. Nearly half (190, 51%) of the patients were from Wakiso District and 293 (77.9%) had grade II wounds. Most of the wounds (171, 45.5%) were on the legs. Two-thirds of the bites occurred in public places. Only 70 (19%) of the bite patients had complied with pre-clinical guidelines. Nearly half of the patients had applied substances that were not recommended e.g. herbs (47/193), antiseptics (46/193), “black stone” (25/193), and unknown creams (10/193). Factors negatively associated with compliance included: being aged 15 years or older, adjPR = 0.70 (0.47–0.92) and knowing the dog owner, adjPR = 0.65 (0.36–0.93). However, attainment of secondary or higher education, adjPR = 1.76 (1.24–3.79), being in employment, adjPR = 1.48 (1.09–2.31), perception that the dog was sick, adjPR = 1.47 (1.02–2.72) and knowledge about the dog’s subsequent victim(s) adjPR = 0.35 (0.17–0.70) were positively associated with compliance. High occurrence of dog bites in public places by free-roaming dogs suggests the need for deliberate promotion of responsible dog ownership. Additionally, targeted health education may be required to improve the low compliance to pre-clinical guidelines.

在狂犬病流行地区，对犬咬伤的适当管理对于预防人类狂犬病至关重要。受害者必须立即用水，肥皂和消毒剂清洗咬伤伤口15分钟，然后再寻求医疗护理。这项研究调查了乌干达Wakiso和Kampala高狂犬病负担地区的狗咬伤受害者中狗咬伤的流行病学以及符合这些临床前指导原则要求的决定因素。使用了解释性的顺序混合方法研究设计。在两个医疗机构从376名被狗咬伤的患者中收集了定量数据。还通过与患者，医护人员，中医和兽医进行的13次深度访谈收集了定性数据。使用演绎主题方法分析定性数据。使用广义线性模型来确定与依从性相关的因素。近一半（190，51％）患者来自Wakiso区，而293名（77.9％）患有II级伤口。大部分伤口（171，45.5％）在腿上。三分之二的叮咬发生在公共场所。仅有70（19％）位被咬患者符合临床前指南。近一半的患者使用了不推荐使用的物质，例如草药（47/193），防腐剂（46/193），“黑石头”（25/193）和未知的乳膏（10/193）。与依从性负相关的因素包括：年龄在15岁或15岁以上，adjPR = 0.70（0.47–0.92）和了解狗主人，adjPR = 0.65（0.36-0.93）。但是，达到中等或高等教育程度，adjPR = 1.76（1.24–3.79），处于就业状态，adjPR = 1.48（1.09–2.31），认为狗生病了，adjPR = 1.47（1.02-2.72）以及对狗的后续受害者adjPR = 0.35（0.17-0.70）的了解与依从性呈正相关。自由漫游的狗在公共场所被狗咬伤的几率很高，这表明有必要故意促进负责任的狗的所有权。此外，可能需要进行有针对性的健康教育，以提高对临床前指南的依从性。