Factors associated with rabies vaccination uptake among dog owners in Butaleja Town Council, Eastern Uganda: A cross-sectional study
This cross-sectional study in Butaleja, Uganda, reveals that while 57% of dog owners vaccinated at least one dog, overall coverage remained below the 70% herd immunity threshold due to significant barriers, identifying that older age, higher education, income, access to veterinary clinics, and community education are key factors associated with successful rabies vaccination uptake.
Original paper licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). This is an AI-generated explanation of a preprint that has not been peer-reviewed. It is not medical advice. Do not make health decisions based on this content. Read full disclaimer
Rabies is a fatal disease that spreads through the saliva of infected animals, most often dogs. Once a person or animal shows symptoms, the disease is almost always deadly, making prevention the only real defense. The most effective way to stop the virus from spreading is to vaccinate dogs, creating a shield of protection around the community. Health experts have long agreed that if at least seventy percent of a dog population is vaccinated, the virus cannot sustain itself and will eventually die out. However, in many parts of the world, reaching this critical threshold has been difficult. In Uganda, despite the availability of vaccines, national vaccination rates have historically hovered around ten percent, leaving millions of people and animals vulnerable to a preventable tragedy.
Researchers from Makerere University and the Ministry of Health decided to investigate why this gap exists in a specific high-risk area called Butaleja Town Council in Eastern Uganda. They wanted to understand the real-world reasons why some dog owners choose to vaccinate their pets while others do not. The team conducted a survey between May and June 2024, speaking directly with 173 dog owners. They asked detailed questions about the owners' lives, their knowledge of the disease, their access to veterinary services, and the habits of the dogs themselves. The goal was not just to count how many dogs were vaccinated, but to uncover the specific factors that encourage or discourage owners from taking action.
The study revealed a complex picture of vaccination behavior. While 57 percent of the dog owners surveyed had vaccinated at least one of their dogs, this success did not translate to full protection for every animal in the household. Among the owners who did participate in vaccination, more than eighty percent managed to vaccinate all their dogs. However, because nearly half of the owners did not vaccinate any of their dogs at all, the overall vaccination rate for the entire dog population in the area stood at only 48 percent. This figure is significantly below the seventy percent target needed to stop the spread of the disease, meaning the community remains at risk.
The researchers found that several clear factors influenced an owner's decision to vaccinate. Older owners, those with more years of formal education, and those with higher monthly incomes were more likely to vaccinate their dogs. The type of family structure also mattered; people living in extended families were more likely to vaccinate than those in nuclear families. Perhaps most importantly, access to services played a huge role. Owners who lived near a veterinary clinic or who knew exactly where to get vaccines were far more likely to vaccinate their pets. Similarly, those who had received reminders about vaccination or who had attended community education sessions showed much higher rates of participation.
The study also highlighted how the dog's own characteristics influenced the outcome. Dogs that were kept primarily for security were more likely to be vaccinated than those kept for hunting. Interestingly, dogs that were born in the town were more likely to be vaccinated than those brought in from other locations, suggesting that new arrivals often slip through the cracks of the vaccination system. Knowledge was another powerful driver; owners who could correctly identify how rabies spreads, recognize its signs, and understand the importance of vaccination were significantly more likely to act.
Despite these insights, the researchers noted that the current situation is not yet sufficient to eliminate the threat. The data suggests that while many owners are willing to vaccinate once they are engaged, the system fails to reach a large portion of the population, particularly younger, less educated, and lower-income owners. The authors conclude that achieving the goal of eliminating rabies deaths requires more than just having vaccines available. It demands targeted efforts to improve education, make veterinary services easier to access, and create reminder systems that reach every household. Without addressing these specific barriers, the community will struggle to reach the level of protection needed to keep both people and dogs safe from this deadly disease.
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