The Understanding and Exploration of Community Perception and Response Associated With Monkey Bites in a Rural District of Odisha, India: A Qualitative Study

Background Human-wildlife conflict is a global threat to sustainable development, food security, and conservation. Southeast Asia, including India, faces a major risk, with a very high number of animal bites occurring annually. While several studies have focused on dog bites, the aim of this study is to describe monkey bite cases and understand the associated factors to improve rabies prevention. This study explores patient perceptions and attitudes regarding the availability of services, alongside considerations of human and animal ethics with respect to monkey bites. Methods An exploratory qualitative study was conducted with bite victims using purposive sampling. In-depth interviews (IDIs) were employed to gather detailed information about the bites and associated factors until data saturation was achieved from four participants. Results Victims provided detailed accounts of the incident, their perceptions and attitudes regarding animal bites, and their ethical concerns. Content analysis of the transcripts revealed five themes: (i) bite as an event (nature of the bite, knowledge of the victims), (ii) post-event care (management at home, management at the hospital), (iii) health system (health system preference, health system preparedness), (iv) animal-human conflict (animal control measures, preventive measures), and (v) environmental and ethical issues. Conclusion There was a lack of knowledge regarding wound management and health service utilization among bite victims. The study highlights the need for awareness generation and educational sessions focused on environmental and animal ethics to improve health outcomes among the general public.