Özet:

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the cases of rabies risk contact (RRC) in the district of Canik (Samsun) in 2014-2015. Materials and Methods: This cross sectional, descriptive study evaluated 435 Risk Assessment Forms for RRC, completed after the examination of cases of contact officially reported to the Canik Community Health Center (CHC) by various public bodies. These forms contain information about the individuals’ socio-demographic characteristics, characteristics of the animals involved in the contact and prophylactic treatments administered. Results: Among all the Group A notifiable infectious diseases reports to Canik CHC during the 2 years’ study period, 435 (74.35%) were RRC reports. Males constituted 76.32% of the RRC cases. Mean age of the cases was 25.95±0.94 years, with 45.51% of subjects being aged 18 or less and 14.02% being under the age of 6. The involved animal was a dog in 75.40% of cases. The type of contact was a bite in 87.34% of the incidents with the involved animal having an owner in 54.71% of the cases. Among the dogs involved in contact, 58.20% of them had an owner. Five doses of rabies vaccination were administered in 41.37% of cases whereas three doses were preferred in 36.09%. Conclusion: RRCs were more common in males and children, a large proportion of cases resulted from contact with dogs, most of the involved animals had owners and the level of vaccination in animals with owners was low. We think that in order to increase the level of vaccination of animals with owners, the relevant regulations must be strictly enforced and dialogue between institutions should be enhanced. Stray animals must also be brought under control and vaccinated. 

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