The Prevalence of Work Related Wound and Associated Risk Factors in Working Equines

Across-sectional study was conducted in Hawasssa town, the capital city of Southern Nations and Nationalities People Regional state; to estimate the prevalence of work related wound and associated risk factors in working equines. The study animals were selected randomly. A total of 309 equines were included in the study comprising 164 (53.1%) of donkey, 95(30.74%) of horses, and 50(16.18%) of mules. The risk factors sex, age, body condition scores, purpose of the animals were assessed through questionnaire survey and physical clinical examination of animals. The study shows that an overall prevalence of external injuries in working equines was 84.1%. The prevalence of external injuries by the species was 25.89%, 45.95% and 12.3% for horse, donkey and mule respectively. Statistically significant difference (p<0.05) in the occurrence of external injuries was noted among working equines of different sex groups, different functions, and different causes. Higher prevalence of external injuries was recorded in male animals (79.93%) than female (4.6%). Moreover, the occurrence of external injuries was higher in equines used for cart pool (40.77%) than those used for fetching of water (14.28%). In addition to this the distribution rate of external injuries between animals of different body condition showed that the highest rate was recorded in animals with medium body condition (31.39%) followed by those with good condition (27.18%).The major causes of external injury was inappropriate use of harness materials (33.7%) followed by over load and falling (12.3%). The prevalence of distribution of wounds on various body parts, was (23.46%) on the back which was relatively highest than shoulder, multiple body parts and wither which represent 11.5%, 10.77% and 8.1% respectively. The occurrence of external injuries in horses were 18.75% multiple wounds, 17.5% on the back and 15% on the shoulder while 23.24% on the back, 9.86 on wither and 8.45% multiple wounds, were found in donkeys. The occurrence of 36.86% of external injuries in the back of mule was observed in the study which was higher than other parts of the body. The study showed that working equine owners practice different approaches (70.4%) to manage wounds while 29.6% owners left their animals without any follow up. Hence, greater proportion of the owners (40%) have taken their animals to nearby health centers, while treated with medicine purchased from local markets 11.5% and 9.6% with medical plants. Relatively horse owners seek veterinarian services (43.5%).