Assessing Rabies Treatment Accessibility In Selected Metro Manila Cities Using GIS-based Techniques

Abstract

Rabies is considered a death sentence when symptoms start to arise. Despite this condition causing tens of thousands of deaths every year, it is highly preventable through timely immunization. With this being said, animal bite incidents are continuously persistent issues present in the Philippines despite efforts in establishing Animal Bite Treatment Centers (ABTCs) and mass vaccination programs. Cultural beliefs, socioeconomic status, and locational inaccessibility to these services influence factors in treatment-seeking behavior amongst Filipinos. This research aims to evaluate the locational accessibility of the Philippines’ efforts in addressing rabies treatment services, specifically for Metro Manila, the country’s densest region. To achieve this, maps of the selected cities showing their population density, location of ABTCs, and average distance to treatment centers will be generated. Additionally, the purpose of the research is to provide meaningful insights into the status quo of rabies control efforts and to suggest gaps in ABTC locations. The analysis showed that Makati had a better ABTC landscape compared to Paranaque, even when the number of at-risk barangays was the same, due to its advantage in ABTC density coverage and average travel distance