{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,27]],"date-time":"2026-05-27T17:28:00Z","timestamp":1779902880044,"version":"3.53.1"},"reference-count":38,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,9]],"date-time":"2025-05-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1746748800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosglobalpublichealth.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLOS Glob Public Health"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Rabies is a fatal zoonotic viral disease affecting all warm-blooded mammals, with approximately 99% of human cases resulting from bites by infected dogs. This study assessed the factors influencing dog vaccination against rabies in South Mugirango, Kisii County, Kenya, where the disease remains endemic and a major public health concern. A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted, utilizing structured questionnaires administered to 422 household heads. Additionally, 22 key informant interviews were carried out with officials from relevant government departments to gain deeper insights. This was a mixed method study involving both a cross sectional survey and qualitative data collection. Data were\u00a0analyzed\u00a0using appropriate statistical techniques to identify patterns and determine associations between socio-demographic factors and vaccination practices. Socio-demographic factors significantly associated with rabies awareness included marital status (p\u2009=\u20090.049), occupation (p\u2009=\u20090.029 for housewives), and the gender of the household breadwinner (p\u2009=\u20090.017 for males). Despite high awareness levels, 4.1% (17\/422) of respondents had not vaccinated their dogs in the past year, and only 15.9% (67\/422) reported recent vaccinations. Older individuals were 12% more likely to vaccinate their dogs per year of age (OR\u2009=\u20091.12, p\u2009=\u20090.002). Higher education (OR\u2009=\u20091.45, p\u2009=\u20090.010), income (OR\u2009=\u20091.20, p\u2009=\u20090.008), rabies awareness (OR\u2009=\u20092.30, p\u2009&lt;\u20090.001), and access to veterinary services (OR\u2009=\u20091.75, p\u2009&lt;\u20090.001) significantly improved adherence. Despite high awareness, dog vaccination rates in South Mugirango remain low, highlighting the need for targeted interventions. Expanding access to veterinary services, subsidizing vaccines, and prioritizing outreach to younger individuals, less-educated and female-headed households can improve vaccination adherence and reduce rabies transmission.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pgph.0004194","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,9]],"date-time":"2025-05-09T17:35:18Z","timestamp":1746812118000},"page":"e0004194","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pgph.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Factors influencing vaccination of dogs against rabies in South Mugirango Sub-County-Kisii County; Kenya"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"5","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-4064-154X","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Fanice Kerubo","family":"Obara","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Eric Omori","family":"Omwenga","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Japheth Mativo","family":"Nzioki","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lameck Ondieki","family":"Agasa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,9]]},"reference":[{"key":"pgph.0004194.ref001","volume-title":"Strategic Plan for the Elimination of Human Rabies in Kenya","author":"Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries.","year":"2014"},{"issue":"9","key":"pgph.0004194.ref002","article-title":"Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practice of dog owners to rabies disease in Kahama town council, Shinyanga region, Tanzania","volume":"17","author":"K Hampson","year":"2023","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"issue":"12","key":"pgph.0004194.ref003","article-title":"Alarming rise in global rabies cases calls for urgent attention: current vaccination status and suggested key countermeasures","volume":"15","author":"P Pattnaik","year":"2023","journal-title":"Cureus"},{"issue":"1","key":"pgph.0004194.ref004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"50","DOI":"10.1186\/1743-422X-9-50","article-title":"Rabies molecular virology, diagnosis, prevention and treatment","volume":"9","author":"MZ Yousaf","year":"2012","journal-title":"Virol J"},{"key":"pgph.0004194.ref005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"210","DOI":"10.2471\/BLT.16.173039","article-title":"Pre-exposure rabies prophylaxis: a systematic review","volume":"95","author":"JA Kessels","year":"2017","journal-title":"Bull World Health Organ"},{"issue":"5","key":"pgph.0004194.ref006","article-title":"Rabies in Southeast Asia: a systematic review of its incidence, risk factors and mortality","volume":"13","author":"JMY Ling","year":"2023","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"pgph.0004194.ref007","unstructured":"World Health Organization. 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