The effect of domestic waste accumulation on the prevalence of rabies in kirkuk city the period 2023

Dog bites are a public health problem, especially in low and middle-income countries, including Iraq, where epidemiological studies on dog bites and rabies have been widespread in recent times due to waste accumulation and the large number of stray dogs. A descriptive cross-sectional study used a time, person and place epidemiological model. The highest incidence rate was in males (72.287%), while the incidence rate in females was (25.712%). As for the residential area, Kirkuk City had the highest incidence (52.605%), followed by Al- Hawija district, with an incidence rate of (26.754%). The age group most susceptible to dog bites is 11-20 years, and the age group is 1-10 years, respectively (30.785%) and (22.863%) respectively. The lower extremities were the leading body site exposed to bite injuries, which constituted (48.158%), followed by the upper extremities (43.988%). The months of March, April and May showed the highest percentage of dog bites (14.732%), (13.829%) and (13.759) respectively. It was also found that the highest injuries were recorded within the age group 11-20, which was 443 and a percentage of 30.783%, followed by the age group 1-10, which was 329 and a percentage of 22.863%. The problem of dog bites is considered one of the important health problems in Kirkuk city, which mainly affects males under the age of twenty, as more than four-fifths of the victims did not complete the recommended preventive vaccination against rabies. Developing a strategic preventive health plan to prevent and control this health problem is strongly required.