Zoonoses and Public Health
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Cause, Setting and Ownership Analysis of Dog Bites in Bay County, Florida from 2009 to 2010 J. Matthias1, M. Templin2, M. M. Jordan1 and D. Stanek1 1 2
Florida Department of Health, Tallahassee, FL, USA Florida Department of Health in Bay County, Panama City, FL, USA
Impacts
• Provides a detailed analysis of infrequently collected variables such as the • •
cause and setting of the dog bite needed for primary prevention approaches within a community. Identifies potential dog bite reporting source bias. Identifies settings and situations where dog bites are most frequently reported.
Keywords: Dog bites; bite injury; dog ownership; rabies; Florida bites Correspondence: J. Matthias. Florida Department of Health, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin A-08, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1712, USA. Tel.: +1 850-251-5256; Fax: +1 850-414-6894; E-mail: James. [email protected] Received for publication August 9, 2013 doi: 10.1111/zph.12115
Summary Emergency room and hospital discharge data have been used to describe the risk factors and public health impact of dog bites. These data sets are based on financial charges for severe bites and underestimates dog bite burdens within communities. This study expands both the source of information and risk factor data collected to provide demographic analysis of dog bite injury risk factors reported in Bay County, Florida in 2009–2010. Extended data for dog bites reported by various sources from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2010 were collected by Florida Department of Health in Bay County. Data collected included bite victim’s age and gender, primary reported cause of bite, setting, dog’s restraint status and relationship between the victim and the dog. A total of 799 bites were reported. Most bites (55%) were reported first by healthcare practitioners, particularly bites involving children
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Cause, Setting and Ownership Analysis of Dog Bites in Bay County, Florida from 2009 to 2010 J. Matthias1, M. Templin2, M. M. Jordan1 and D. Stanek1 1 2
Florida Department of Health, Tallahassee, FL, USA Florida Department of Health in Bay County, Panama City, FL, USA
Impacts
• Provides a detailed analysis of infrequently collected variables such as the • •
cause and setting of the dog bite needed for primary prevention approaches within a community. Identifies potential dog bite reporting source bias. Identifies settings and situations where dog bites are most frequently reported.
Keywords: Dog bites; bite injury; dog ownership; rabies; Florida bites Correspondence: J. Matthias. Florida Department of Health, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin A-08, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1712, USA. Tel.: +1 850-251-5256; Fax: +1 850-414-6894; E-mail: James. [email protected] Received for publication August 9, 2013 doi: 10.1111/zph.12115
Summary Emergency room and hospital discharge data have been used to describe the risk factors and public health impact of dog bites. These data sets are based on financial charges for severe bites and underestimates dog bite burdens within communities. This study expands both the source of information and risk factor data collected to provide demographic analysis of dog bite injury risk factors reported in Bay County, Florida in 2009–2010. Extended data for dog bites reported by various sources from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2010 were collected by Florida Department of Health in Bay County. Data collected included bite victim’s age and gender, primary reported cause of bite, setting, dog’s restraint status and relationship between the victim and the dog. A total of 799 bites were reported. Most bites (55%) were reported first by healthcare practitioners, particularly bites involving children
