Animal anti-rabies vaccination coverage, Upper West Region, Ghana, 2024

Introduction: Rabies, a vaccine-preventable zoonosis, occurs in most parts of the world, causing over 60,000 deaths globally. Achieving and maintaining a minimum vaccination coverage of 70% is recommended by WHO to eliminate rabies. However, Upper West Regional veterinary reports show low uptake of anti-rabies vaccine. Data on animal anti-rabies vaccination is generated in the region; however, no robust analysis is done on this data. This study sought to analyze and describe the animal anti-rabies vaccination data by animal species, districts and time. Methods: A secondary data analysis was conducted on animal anti-rabies vaccination data compiled from monthly veterinary reports in the Upper West Region from 2019 to 2023. Study population included dogs, cats and monkeys reported to have been vaccinated against rabies in the region from 2019 to 2023. Data was analysed descriptively by animal species and districts by computing frequencies and proportions, and time by mapping trends. Results were presented as text, tables, and figures. Results: A total of 32,874 animals were vaccinated during the period, out of which majority, 28,568 (86.9%) were dogs and the least 26 (0.1%) were monkeys. The highest vaccination coverage in dogs was 20.1%, recorded in 2020, and least was 8.7% recorded in 2021. Lambussie district reported the highest number of vaccinated animals 7,574 (23%), while Sissala West district reported the least 984 (3%). An increasing trend from 2021 to 2023 was observed in the yearly trend of the number of animals vaccinated against rabies. Conclusion: Animal anti-rabies vaccination figures and coverage in the Upper West region have been low for the past few years despite efforts to increase vaccination coverage. Dogs were the most vaccinated among vaccinated animals. We recommend community education on rabies in all parts of the region to improve vaccination coverage.