Abstract: Objective To understand the changes of incidence of rabies exposure and its influencing factors in population living in rural areas of Hunan Province for scientific evidence in following prevention and control of rabies in rural villages.Methods By multi-stage sampling method,we conducted series of surveys on the villagers recruited from four administrative villages in four counties of Hunan Province to understand the primary situation of rabies exposure.Univariate analysis and multivariate unconditional logistic regression analysis were performed to analyze the factors of rabies exposure.Results Of the 5 636 respondents from 1 533 families,106 subjects experienced rabies exposure in 2018,with an exposure incidence of 2.18%.After standardization of the age-sex structure,the incidence of rabies exposure in rural areas of Hanshou County,Hengdong County,Lanshan County and Shaoyang County was 0.58,0.95,1.88 and 1.91 times per 100 person-years,respectively.The standardized rabies exposure rate in rural areas of Hunan Province was 1.63 times per 100 person-years.Univariate analysis showed that age,educational level,residence time,county of residence and families with dog and cat being raised were the factors of affecting rabies exposure.Further multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that age,county of residence and families with dog and cat being raised were significantly associated with rabies exposure.The results of univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences in awareness of medical reimbursement policy and knowledge on rabies prevention.However,additional multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that awareness of medical reimbursement policy was related to the decision of victims to seek treatment after rabies exposure.Conclusion Our findings suggest that raising of dogs and cats should be controlled,and villagers with dog and cat being raised in families should be given education on the knowledge of rabies exposure.In addition,new rural cooperative medical care
system should be extended in wider rural areas in order to reduce the risk of rabies.

Key words: Rabies, Exposure rate , Influencing factors, Rural areas, Hunan Province