J Vet Sci.  2010 Dec;11(4):363-365. 10.4142/jvs.2010.11.4.363.

Prevalence and patterns of self-reported animal-related injury among veterinarians in metropolitan Kampala

Affiliations
  • 1Pathobiology Academic Program, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George's University, P.O Box 7, St. George's Grenada, West Indies. rkabuusu@sgu.edu
  • 2Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, St. George's University, P.O Box 7, St. George's Grenada, West Indies.
  • 3Makerere University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 7062 Kampala, Uganda.
  • 4Department of Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, St. George's University, P.O Box 7, St. George's Grenada, West Indies.

Abstract

To establish the prevalence, patterns and risk factors of animal-related injuries among veterinarians, self-administered questionnaires were given to 60 veterinarians practicing in metropolitan Kampala. The prevalence of animal-related injuries in metropolitan Kampala was 72% (95%CI, 57~84). Some veterinarians (34%) suffered multiple injuries with a mean and median of 2.1 and 2.0 injuries per veterinarian, respectively. Of a total of 70 self-reported animal related injuries, cattle accounted for 72%, cats for 25%, dogs for 23%, self inoculation for 15% and birds for 13%. Injuries associated with poultry did not require hospital treatment. The upper limb was the most the frequently (68%) injured anatomical body part of veterinarians, and vaccination of animals (25%) was the major activity associated with injury. Animal-related injuries are common among practicing veterinarians in metropolitan Kampala; however, they did not differ significantly based on the veterinarian's gender, experience or risk awareness.

Keyword

animal-related injury; patterns; prevalence; self-reported; veterinarians

MeSH Terms

Accidents, Occupational/*statistics & numerical data
Animals
Female
Humans
Male
Prevalence
Risk Factors
*Self Report
Uganda
Veterinarians/*statistics & numerical data
Wounds and Injuries/*epidemiology

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