Exploring Social Inequalities in Dog Bites and Strikes Using Administrative Data Sources

Abstract

Hospital admissions due to dog bites and strikes (DBS) are rising across the UK. In Scotland, this has been dubbed a ‘national crisis’. DBS can lead to serious and long-lasting physical and mental injury, with the most vulnerable populations often at greatest risk. In England and Wales, hospital admissions for DBS are highest in the most deprived areas, while in Scotland, the existence or extent of these disparities remains unknown – a gap in knowledge that this thesis aims to address. NHS 24 calls, A&E attendances and SMR01 hospital admissions involving DBS across Scotland for up to 12 years (2007-2019) were explored at record and area levels and then linked to 2011 Scottish Census microdata. A control group of individuals without a health record for a DBS was extracted from the Census, and their characteristics were compared to individuals with a DBS health record. Measures of socioeconomic circumstance were considered at area and individual/household levels, along with an exploration of novel measures, including local greenspace, average garden size and dog populations. The analysis revealed significant social inequalities in medically attended DBS across Scotland. For instance, the rate of DBS health records was at least 2-3 times higher in the most deprived areas than in the least deprived areas. At the individual/household level, social disadvantage was consistently associated with a higher likelihood of having a DBS health record. This pattern held across multiple measures of socioeconomic circumstance. These inequalities were particularly pronounced among children and for injuries resulting in hospital admission. The conclusions argue that these inequities are unjust and avoidable and must be addressed directly. This thesis advocates for a shift from criminalising and blaming irresponsible dog ownership toward strategies that support families and consider the role of broader systemic factors.