Sociocultural determinants of human rabies in the Philippines and Thailand

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Source Title

3rd International Conference 2014 Social and Health Inequity and Globalization: he ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Perspective

Publication Date

8-2014

Abstract

Rabies is considered a global health concern. Every year, rabies causes 60,000 deaths in the human population worldwide. More human deaths due to rabies occur in Asia compared to other parts of the world. Within Southeast Asia, disparities in the prevalence rate and rabies control practices can be observed. This study compares through literature review rabies-related situations are the Philippines and Thailand using the sociocultural determinants of health perspective.

The findings demonstrate commonalities and differences between the Philippines and Thailand in terms of the prevalence and demographies of human rabies and the sociocultural determinants that influence the dynamics of the disease and the policies and programs to prevent and control it. Thailand by far shows more improvement in terms of rabies epidemiology and anti-rabies campaign as evidenced by a sharper decrease in morbidity and mortality rates compared to the Philippines.

For both countries, male, poorly nourished children from the rural poor sector of the population are the common victims of the disease. Laws related to combating the rabies is almost the same for both countries. Both encourage multi-sectoral collaboration and involvement of the local government units. Also, the two countries of interest also have been lauded for their respective program planning and implementation. Both also demonstrate major cultural hindrances.

The two countries have still a long way to go in order to reach its target of eliminating rabies by 2020, more specifically the Philippines. Governments for both countries must realize that in order to achieve its higher health goals, specific programs, such as human and canine rabies control must also be properly implemented and evaluated.

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Disciplines

Medicine and Health

Keywords

Rabies—Philippines; Rabies—Thailand; Rabies in children—Philippines; Rabies in children—Thailand

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