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. 2015 Dec 3;9(12):e0004221.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004221. eCollection 2015 Dec.

Incentives Increase Participation in Mass Dog Rabies Vaccination Clinics and Methods of Coverage Estimation Are Assessed to Be Accurate

Abel B Minyoo  1 , Melissa Steinmetz  2 , Anna Czupryna  3 , Machunde Bigambo  4 , Imam Mzimbiri  4 , George Powell  4 , Paul Gwakisa  1   5 , Felix Lankester  1   2
Affiliations

Incentives Increase Participation in Mass Dog Rabies Vaccination Clinics and Methods of Coverage Estimation Are Assessed to Be Accurate

Abel B Minyoo et al. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. .

Abstract

In this study we show that incentives (dog collars and owner wristbands) are effective at increasing owner participation in mass dog rabies vaccination clinics and we conclude that household questionnaire surveys and the mark-re-sight (transect survey) method for estimating post-vaccination coverage are accurate when all dogs, including puppies, are included. Incentives were distributed during central-point rabies vaccination clinics in northern Tanzania to quantify their effect on owner participation. In villages where incentives were handed out participation increased, with an average of 34 more dogs being vaccinated. Through economies of scale, this represents a reduction in the cost-per-dog of $0.47. This represents the price-threshold under which the cost of the incentive used must fall to be economically viable. Additionally, vaccination coverage levels were determined in ten villages through the gold-standard village-wide census technique, as well as through two cheaper and quicker methods (randomized household questionnaire and the transect survey). Cost data were also collected. Both non-gold standard methods were found to be accurate when puppies were included in the calculations, although the transect survey and the household questionnaire survey over- and under-estimated the coverage respectively. Given that additional demographic data can be collected through the household questionnaire survey, and that its estimate of coverage is more conservative, we recommend this method. Despite the use of incentives the average vaccination coverage was below the 70% threshold for eliminating rabies. We discuss the reasons and suggest solutions to improve coverage. Given recent international targets to eliminate rabies, this study provides valuable and timely data to help improve mass dog vaccination programs in Africa and elsewhere.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. The vaccination coverage as estimated by the different assessment methods (village wide census (VWC), household questionnaire survey (HHQ) and transect survey (TRANSECT).
Plot (A) shows coverage when adult dogs and puppies were included in the estimates, and (B) when only adult dogs were included.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Vaccination turnout.
Difference in the number of dogs being brought to vaccination in 2012 and 2013 in villages with and without incentives.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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