Background: Animal bites are a significant public health problem in India, contributing substantially to morbidity and mortality due to rabies. Animal bites, particularly dog bites, account for the majority of rabies exposures in the country, with a higher burden observed in rural areas. Primary Health Centres serve as the first point of contact for animal bite victims in rural settings. Hence, this study aimed to estimate the incidence of animal bite and its associated factors among patients attending a Primary Health Centre in rural Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh. Objectives: To estimate the Incidence of animal bite and its associated factors in rural field practice area of GMC, Srikakulam and to estimate the out-of-pocket expenditure of post exposure prophylaxis of animal bite in rural field practice area of GMC, Srikakulam. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the rural field practice area of Government Medical College, Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, over a period of six months from July 2025 to December 2025. Data was collected by interview and participants were included into the study by simple random sampling. Results: Out of a total of 9,161 study participants, 430 individuals (4.7%) reported a history of animal bite, while the majority, 8,731 participants (95.3%), did not report any animal bite. Among the 430 animal bite victims, 255 (59.3%) were males and 175 (40.7%) were females. Conclusion: Animal bites in rural areas higher than semi urban, urban areas due to lack of awareness, management and preventive measures, lack of proper pet vaccination.

Animal bite, Rabies, Zoonosis, Incidence, Morbidity & Mortality, Post-exposure prophylaxis