Daigle Laurence, Ravel André, Lévesque Francis, Mokoush Kabimbetas Noah, Rondenay Yves, Simon Audrey, Aenishaenslin Cécile
Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada.
Groupe de Recherche en Épidémiologie des Zoonoses et Santé publique, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada.
Front Vet Sci. 2023 Sep 19;10:1199576. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1199576. eCollection 2023.
Globally, people living in northern Indigenous communities are at higher risk of dog bites than the rest of the population living in North America, with annual incidence ranging from 0.61 to 59.6/10,000 inhabitants. Considering that rabies is endemic in wild canid populations in certain regions of the Arctic, the prevention of dog bites and the management of dog populations are of crucial importance for public health in these contexts. Most northern communities lack access to veterinary services, mainly due to their remote geographical location and to limited financial resources. Currently, northern Indigenous communities are using different approaches and strategies to prevent dog bites and manage dog populations, but the effectiveness of these approaches sometimes lacks evidence, and their low acceptability may affect their implementation. This study aims to describe (1) the current access and uses of veterinary services, and (2) the perceived barriers and opportunities related to dog population management practices currently implemented, or that could be implemented, in a Naskapi community and an Innu community located in northern Quebec (Canada). Quantitative data were collected through a survey to inhabitants on veterinary services ( = 122). Qualitative data were collected using individual interviews to inhabitants and health professionals to describe how dog population management measures were perceived, and to identify barriers and opportunities related to their implementation ( = 37). Descriptive and inferential analysis (quantitative data) and thematic analysis (qualitative data) were performed. Results show that the two main measures implemented at the time of the study - dog culling and short-duration veterinary clinics - were not perceived as fully acceptable and sustainable. Reinforcing access to veterinary services and other dog-related services, such as shelters and training programs on dogs, was identified as a need to improve dog bites prevention and dog population management in remote Indigenous communities. The implementation of animal health measures should be decided by concerned Indigenous communities to follow decolonial practices. It includes ensuring informed consent of dog owners, improving communication before, during and after interventions, separating veterinary services from rehoming and, most importantly giving back to Indigenous communities the complete leadership over animal health in their communities.
在全球范围内，生活在北方原住民社区的人们遭受狗咬伤的风险高于北美其他地区的人口，年发病率在每10000居民0.61至59.6例之间。鉴于狂犬病在北极某些地区的野生犬科动物种群中呈地方流行，在这些情况下预防狗咬伤和管理犬类种群对公共卫生至关重要。大多数北方社区无法获得兽医服务，主要是由于其地理位置偏远和财政资源有限。目前，北方原住民社区正在采用不同的方法和策略来预防狗咬伤和管理犬类种群，但这些方法的有效性有时缺乏证据，其低接受度可能会影响其实施。本研究旨在描述：（1）兽医服务的当前可及性和使用情况；（2）与目前在加拿大魁北克北部的一个纳斯卡皮社区和一个因努社区实施或可能实施的犬类种群管理实践相关的感知障碍和机遇。通过对居民进行关于兽医服务的调查收集定量数据（n = 122）。通过对居民和卫生专业人员进行个人访谈收集定性数据，以描述对犬类种群管理措施的看法，并确定与这些措施实施相关的障碍和机遇（n = 37）。进行了描述性和推断性分析（定量数据）以及主题分析（定性数据）。结果表明，在研究时实施的两项主要措施——扑杀犬类和短期兽医诊所——未被视为完全可接受和可持续的。加强兽医服务和其他与狗相关服务（如收容所和犬类训练项目）的可及性，被认为是改善偏远原住民社区狗咬伤预防和犬类种群管理的必要条件。动物健康措施的实施应由相关原住民社区决定，以遵循去殖民化做法。这包括确保狗主人的知情同意，改善干预前、干预期间和干预后的沟通，将兽医服务与重新安置分开，最重要的是让原住民社区完全掌控其社区内的动物健康。
