A Study of Veterinary Health Care Providers’ Perspectives for Proposed Statewide Expansion of the Project Mission Rabies in the State of Rajasthan, India

Human mortality due to canine rabies remains a significant public health challenge for India. The annual estimated number of dog bites is 17.4 million-one every two seconds- leading to 18,000 to 20,000 human rabies cases per year (WHO, 2015). In 2013, a UK based NGO launched Project Mission Rabies conducting mass anti-rabies dog vaccination campaigns throughout India. Despite a promising pilot, the project is no longer active in the State of Rajasthan. The purpose of the Capstone Project is to provide the evidence to propose a statewide expansion of the Project Mission Rabiesin Rajasthan.A systematic literature review was performed. Online surveys were administered to veterinary health care providers to investigate the knowledge and attitudes related to rabies and the Project Mission Rabies. Interviews with key stakeholders were conducted to identify their perspectives on the barriers and the facilitating factors encountered while implementing the Bikaner pilot project and recommendations for expanding the Project to a state level. The responses were analyzed using a quantitative and qualitative thematic approach. The triangulation of data indicates the importance of Project Mission Rabies to effectively control, prevent and eradicate rabies. Veterinary health care providers acknowledged the urgent need to control rabies and identified the Project Mission Rabies as deserving a statewide expansion.Involving the government, increasing the frequency of program implementation and raising community awareness were identified as strategies to support the expansion. The study provides convincing evidence to present to the State government for the expansion of the Project Mission Rabies in Rajasthan. Presentation: 23 minute