Participatory Communication and Mass Dog Vaccination for Effective Rabies Management in Mitooma District, Western Uganda: An Exploratory Study

ABSTRACT Background Canine rabies remains an endemic public health threat in Mitooma District, Uganda, where traditional, top–down public health interventions frequently fail to achieve the required 70% mass dog vaccination (MDV) coverage due to limited community engagement and one‐way communication. Objectives This exploratory study evaluated the effectiveness of participatory communication in enhancing community engagement in MDV programs at the human–dog–wildlife interface in Mitooma District and identified the sociocultural and ecological factors influencing rabies control. Methods Four gender‐segregated focus group discussions were conducted across four purposively selected parishes (Kiyanga, Kaburara, Iraramira, and Kashasha) in Kiyanga sub‐county, Mitooma District. Data were analyzed using thematic framework analysis. Results Critical gaps persist regarding paralytic rabies, non‐bite transmission pathways, and wildlife reservoirs, whereas inadequate interactive education drives the adoption of harmful traditional wound care. Furthermore, top–down vaccination mismatches and utilitarian canine views trigger booster noncompliance and ownership denial to evade medical and legal liabilities. Conclusion Rabies persistence in Mitooma District is fundamentally driven by a failure of bidirectional community engagement and multi‐sectoral coordination. Shifting from top–down public health messaging to a One Health participatory communication framework is necessary to establish sustainable community co‐ownership and break the transmission cycle.