An epidemiologic study of dog bites among postmen in central Taiwan

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the occupational hazard of dog bites among postmen. METHODS: Data were collected from postmen working for 9 post offices in central Taiwan using the postmen's 1994 annual health examinations. Of 237 eligible postmen, 192 postmen (81.0%), including 183 men and 9 women, participated in this study. Detailed personal and occupational information and experiences of dog bites during a 3-year period (1991 to 1994) were obtained through a structured questionnaire. Baseline variables and occupational data were examined as risk factors for the dog bites among the postmen using multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: We found that, during the 3-year period of study, 71.4% (137/192) of the postmen had had the experience of dog bites. Only 48.9% (67/137) had sought medical attention after a dog bite injury. There was also a regional difference among postmen experiencing dog bites. After controlling multiple variables, there was a 2.70-fold increase in risk of having dog bite accidents among postmen who worked in rural areas compared with those who worked in urban areas (95% confidence interval, 1.39 to 5.25). CONCLUSION: Dog bites are a common occupational hazard for postmen. The incidence of dog bites among postmen is higher than the reported rates among general populations. There is a need to develop an effective prevention strategy to reduce the occurrence of dog bites among postmen. We also emphasize the importance of seeking adequate medical treatment after a dog bite injury. Language: en