Barriers and opportunities for improving dog bite prevention and dog management practices in northern Indigenous communities

Frontiers in Veterinary Science

Veterinary Science

Yves Rondenay¹  André Ravel²  Audrey Simon³  Laurence Daigle⁴  Cécile Aenishaenslin⁴  Kabimbetas Noah Mokoush⁵  Francis Lévesque⁶ 

[1] Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vétérinaire, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada;Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada;Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada;Groupe de Recherche en Épidémiologie des Zoonoses et Santé publique, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada;Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada;Groupe de Recherche en Épidémiologie des Zoonoses et Santé publique, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada;Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique de l’Université de Montréal et du Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux (CIUSSS) du Centre-Sud-de-l’île-de-Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada;Independent Researcher, Kawawachikamach, QC, Canada;École d’études autochtones, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Val-d’Or, QC, Canada;

关键词: dog bites;    prevention;    epidemiology;    Indigenous;    northern communities;    public health;    rabies;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fvets.2023.1199576

 received in 2023-04-03, accepted in 2023-08-16,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Globally, people living in northern Indigenous communities are at higher risk of dog bites than the rest of the population living in North America, with annual incidence ranging from 0.61 to 59.6/10,000 inhabitants. Considering that rabies is endemic in wild canid populations in certain regions of the Arctic, the prevention of dog bites and the management of dog populations are of crucial importance for public health in these contexts. Most northern communities lack access to veterinary services, mainly due to their remote geographical location and to limited financial resources. Currently, northern Indigenous communities are using different approaches and strategies to prevent dog bites and manage dog populations, but the effectiveness of these approaches sometimes lacks evidence, and their low acceptability may affect their implementation. This study aims to describe (1) the current access and uses of veterinary services, and (2) the perceived barriers and opportunities related to dog population management practices currently implemented, or that could be implemented, in a Naskapi community and an Innu community located in northern Quebec (Canada). Quantitative data were collected through a survey to inhabitants on veterinary services (n = 122). Qualitative data were collected using individual interviews to inhabitants and health professionals to describe how dog population management measures were perceived, and to identify barriers and opportunities related to their implementation (n = 37). Descriptive and inferential analysis (quantitative data) and thematic analysis (qualitative data) were performed. Results show that the two main measures implemented at the time of the study – dog culling and short-duration veterinary clinics – were not perceived as fully acceptable and sustainable. Reinforcing access to veterinary services and other dog-related services, such as shelters and training programs on dogs, was identified as a need to improve dog bites prevention and dog population management in remote Indigenous communities. The implementation of animal health measures should be decided by concerned Indigenous communities to follow decolonial practices. It includes ensuring informed consent of dog owners, improving communication before, during and after interventions, separating veterinary services from rehoming and, most importantly giving back to Indigenous communities the complete leadership over animal health in their communities.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
Copyright © 2023 Daigle, Ravel, Lévesque, Mokoush, Rondenay, Simon and Aenishaenslin.