Dog Populations and Dog-Keeping Practices In Relation To Rabies Control in Kisumu and Siaya Counties, Kenya

The prevalence of rabies is highly influenced by the density of unvaccinated dog populations. Unfortunately, little is known about dog ecology in Kenya. This is a big setback in the efforts to ensure 70% vaccination of the dog population as it is difficult to gauge the coverage of vaccination. This study was designed to describe dog demographics in both owned and free roaming populations in Kisumu and Siaya counties in efforts to control rabies in Kenya. Households were randomly selected and all owned dogs were enumerated and marked. Mark-recapture technique was used to enumerate the roaming dog populations. Semi-structured questionnaires and focus group discussions were used to get the opinions of household heads and key opinion leaders on the dog populations and their management. A total of 351 residents were interviewed while 259 and 299 owned dogs were counted in Kisumu and Siaya respectively.Majority of the dogs were free to roam and scavenge. The level of dog vaccination was very low for the control of the disease. A total of 386 free roaming dogs were counted in both counties; 196 in Kisumu and 190 in Siaya. Human behavior and attitude seemed to be very important determinants of dog population features in the study areas. A further and detailed research on the spatial and temporal distribution of the dog populations is of paramount importance. This will help in establishing a sustainable and effective control program for the disease.