ABSTRACT

Rabies is efficiently controlled through mass vaccination of dogs. In an area of South Africa where free vaccination campaigns were implemented following rabies re-emergence, the required 70% vaccination coverage was challenging to reach. Understanding the factors affecting the efficiency of mass vaccination is helpful in guiding long-term rabies control efforts. This study aimed to assess the communities’ knowledge and perceptions of dogs, rabies and the related risk, and control behaviors in a rural rabies-endemic interface area. Combined with informal discussions and participative observations, we organized 18 focus group discussions with men, women, and children – stratified by dog ownership status – in three villages in the Mnisi community in the Mpumalanga Province in north-east South Africa. This community highly valued hunting dogs despite hunting of wildlife being illegal. Although people did not have a clear idea of how dogs acquire rabies, they were aware of the presence of the disease and its zoonotic nature. A dog bite was always associated with rabies risk but was also a source of conflict between dog owners and bite victims, hampering bite health care management. Dog vaccination was perceived as a means to prevent diseases from spreading to humans and other animals, not only to protect dogs from diseases but also to cure disease. Lack of awareness, misinterpretation of health promotion messages, and specific beliefs among adults seemed to hinder participation in rabies vaccination campaigns. Involving and educating staff from clinics and wildlife reserves during vaccination campaigns would tackle rumors, clarify dog bite and dog vaccination procedures, and improve the relationship among stakeholders. Further anthropological studies, focusing on people owning dogs for hunting, may provide a better understanding of rabies transmission patterns and risk factors in this community.

摘要

狂犬病可通过对狗进行大规模疫苗接种而得到有效控制。在狂犬病再次出现后开展免费疫苗接种运动的南非地区，要达到所需的70％疫苗接种覆盖率具有挑战性。了解影响大规模疫苗接种效率的因素有助于指导长期的狂犬病控制工作。这项研究旨在评估社区对狗，狂犬病及其相关风险的认识和认知，并控制农村狂犬病-流行地区的控制行为。结合非正式讨论和参与性观察，我们在南非东北部姆普马兰加省姆尼西社区的三个村庄中，组织了18个小组讨论，按狗的拥有状况对男人，女人和儿童进行了分组。尽管狩猎野生动物是非法的，但该社区仍高度评价狩猎犬。尽管人们对狗如何获得狂犬病没有一个清晰的认识，但他们知道这种疾病的存在及其人畜共患的性质。狗咬伤总是与狂犬病风险相关，但也是狗主人与被咬伤者之间发生冲突的根源，阻碍了叮咬医疗的管理。狗的疫苗接种被认为是防止疾病传播到人类和其他动物的一种手段，不仅可以保护狗免受疾病侵害，而且可以治愈疾病。缺乏认识，对健康促进信息的误解以及成年人之间的特定信仰似乎阻碍了狂犬病疫苗接种运动的参与。在疫苗接种运动中，让诊所和野生动植物保护区的工作人员参与进来并进行教育，可以解决谣言，阐明狗咬和狗疫苗接种程序，并改善利益相关者之间的关系。进一步的人类学研究（重点是养狗的人）可能会更好地了解该社区的狂犬病传播模式和危险因素。