Dog-bites, rabies and One Health: Towards improved coordination in research, policy and practice

Melanie J. Rock, Dawn Rault and Chris Degeling

Social Science & Medicine, 2017, vol. 187, issue C, 126-133

Abstract: Dog-bites and rabies are neglected problems worldwide, notwithstanding recent efforts to raise awareness and to consolidate preventive action. As problems, dog-bites and rabies are entangled with one another, and both align with the concept of One Health. This concept emphasizes interdependence between humans and non-human species in complex socio-ecological systems. Despite intuitive appeal, One Health applications and critiques remain under-developed with respect to social science and social justice. In this article, we report on an ethnographic case-study of policies on dog bites and rabies, with a focus on Calgary, Alberta, Canada, which is widely recognized as a leader in animal-control policies. The fieldwork took place between 2013 and 2016. Our analysis suggests that current policies on rabies prevention may come at the expense of a ‘bigger picture’ for One Health. In that ‘bigger picture,’ support is needed to enhance coordination between animal-control and public-health policies. Such coordination has direct relevance for the well-being of children, not least Indigenous children.

Keywords: Canada; Rabies; Injuries; Health promotion; Dogs; Medical anthropology; Veterinary medicine; Criminology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.06.036

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