Abstract
Objective: To characterise the risk factors of haematophagous bat bites and to provide information to contribute to the prevention of rabies in Ecuador.
Design: Cross-sectional study based on interviews with 3518 individuals, from which two sets of variables were generated: characteristics of haematophagous bat attacks in the previous year among humans and risk factors for being bitten.
Methods: Data were analysed using multivariate logistic regression models, taking history of bat bites in the previous year as the response variable.
Results: In the previous year 723 (20.6%, 95% CI 19.321.9) of the participants declared having received haematophagous bat bites and 50.4% in the previous month, giving an incidence rate of 10.4% (95% CI 9.611.6) per month. Sleeping on the floor or in a hammock (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.58, 95% CI 1.21-2.06), not using a protective bed net (aOR 1.25, 95% CI 1.03-1.50) and living in a dwelling with permanent openings in the structure (aOR 1.49, 95% CI 1.12-1.95) were associated with a higher probability of bat bites. Those most affected were the group aged. 12 years (age 13-19 years, aOR 0.39, 95% CI 0.32-0.48; age. 20 years, aOR 0.67, 95% CI 0.50-0.90).
Conclusion: Primary prevention based on pre-exposure vaccination would be justifiable given the high dispersion of the population and the high incidence of bat bites. As a secondary protective measure, communities should work towards increasing the use of protective measures and putting barriers in permanent openings in their dwellings.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Article number | 3 |
Pages (from-to) | 85-89 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Public health action |
Volume | 3 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 21 Mar 2013 |
Keywords
- bat bites
- neglected disease
- poverty