Pages: (47-60 )
Abstract
Rabies is a deadly viral zoonosis often transmitted by domestic dogs to humans. Clinical veterinary students remain at high risk of exposure to rabies. There are limited studies on rabies preventive practices and associated seroprofile of veterinary students in Nigeria. Thus, this study assessed rabies preventive practices, antibody levels and associated risk factors among clinical stage students in a veterinary teaching hospital, Oyo State, Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain data on rabies preventive practices and socio-demographic characteristics of sixty consenting clinical veterinary students during August and September, 2020. Blood (3mls) was aseptically collected from each volunteer and screened using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. Data were subjected to Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression. Majority of the students were males [37(61.7%)], between 21 and 30 years [39(65.0%)] with an average monthly income of N30,000 or less [28(46.7%)]. Twenty-two (37.7%) had been bitten or scratched by domestic or wild animals. Only 16(26.7%) exhibited acceptable rabies preventive practices. Being between 21 and 30 years (OR = 0.05, 95%CI = 0.01-0.32, p = 0.001), an undergraduate (OR = 0.07, 95%CI = 0.01-0.51, p = 0.01) and earning N30,000 or less monthly (OR = 0.11, 95% CI = 0.01-0.5), p = 0.01) were risk factors associated with unacceptable practices. The seroprevalence of rabies antibodies among the students was 61.7% and seven (23.3%) of the unvaccinated students were seropositive. Unacceptable practices and likely exposure to rabies virus among the students underscore occupational risk. Annual rabies vaccination of veterinary students is recommended.
Keywords: Veterinary training, Rabies prevention, Seroprevalence, Occupational risk,