DIMENSION OF POPULATION AND EVALUATION OF CANINE HOME ANTI-RABIES IMMUNIZATION COVERAGE IN THE MUNICIPALITIES OF V MANAGEMENT REGIONAL HEALTH, STATE OF PERNAMBUCO

Abstract

The objective of this study is to dimension of the canine population and evaluate the anti-rabies vaccination coverage in 19 cities of the 5^th Regional Health Department, a division of the State Health Department, located in Agreste Meridional, in the State of Pernambuco. The domestic canine population survey was performed by the local Health and Basic Attention Department, in the respective cities, according to specifications provided by the State Health Department, and it was applied by the health agents, during their neighborhood visits in urban and rural areas from January to July 2008. The total number of dogs vaccinated during 2007 and 2008 campaigns in the cities of this study was provided by the respective Health Department in the region. The ratio habitants/dogs varied from 4.5 to 12.8 habitants per dog. The population survey is more indicated than the canine population estimative based in the human population indicators, once the data obtained through this survey will guide some right actions to plan and evaluate the anti-rabies vaccination campaign, the effective knowledge of the canine population and to set goals to control the zoonoses to protect the human and animal health. According to this study, the minor coverage found was 83.4% in 2008, which is considered satisfactory for the control of rabies.