Perceptions, awareness on snakebite envenoming among the tribal community and health care providers of Dahanu block, Palghar District in Maharashtra, India
<h4>Introduction</h4> India has remarkably the highest number of snakebite cases contributing to nearly 50% of the global snakebite deaths. Despite this fact, there is limited knowledge and awareness regarding the management practices for snakebite in the Indian population. The study aim...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2021-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8341635/?tool=EBI |
| _version_ | 1818891161164578816 |
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| author | Itta Krishna Chaaithanya Dipak Abnave Himmatrao Bawaskar Ujwal Pachalkar Sandip Tarukar Neha Salvi Prabhakar Bhoye Arun Yadav Smita D. Mahale Rahul K. Gajbhiye |
| author_facet | Itta Krishna Chaaithanya Dipak Abnave Himmatrao Bawaskar Ujwal Pachalkar Sandip Tarukar Neha Salvi Prabhakar Bhoye Arun Yadav Smita D. Mahale Rahul K. Gajbhiye |
| author_sort | Itta Krishna Chaaithanya |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Introduction</h4> India has remarkably the highest number of snakebite cases contributing to nearly 50% of the global snakebite deaths. Despite this fact, there is limited knowledge and awareness regarding the management practices for snakebite in the Indian population. The study aimed to explore the knowledge, awareness, and perception of snakes and snakebites, first aid, and treatment amongst the community and the frontline health workers in a tribal block of Dahanu, Maharashtra, India. <h4>Methods</h4> A cross-sectional study was carried out from June 2016 to October 2018 in the Dahanu Block, Maharashtra. Perceptions, knowledge, awareness, and first-aid practices on the snakebites among the community were studied through focus group discussions (FGDs). Semi-structured questionnaires were used to assess the knowledge, awareness, and experience of the traditional faith healers, snake rescuers, frontline health workers on the snakebites and their management. A facility check survey was conducted using pre-tested questionnaires for different levels of the government health care facilities. <h4>Results</h4> Most of the tribal community was aware of the commonly found snakes and their hiding places. However, there was inadequate knowledge on the identification and classification of venomous snakes. Belief in a snake god, the perception that snakes will not come out during thunderstorms, change in taste sensation, the ability of tamarind seeds or magnet to reduce the venom effect were some of the superstitions reported by the tribal community. The application of a harmful method (Tourniquet) as the first aid for snakebite was practiced by the tribal community. They preferred herbal medicines and visiting the traditional faith healers before shifting the patient to the government health facility. The knowledge on the ability to identify venomous snakebites and anti-venom was significantly higher amongst nurses and accredited social health activists (ASHAs) than auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs) and multi-purpose workers (MPWs) (p < 0.05). None of the traditional faith healers; but nearly 60% of snake rescuers were aware of anti-venom. Fifty percent of the medical officers in Dahanu block did not have correct knowledge about the Krait bite symptoms, and renal complications due to the Russell viper bite. <h4>Conclusions</h4> Inappropriate perception, inadequate awareness, and knowledge about snakes and snakebites may predispose the tribal community to increased risks of venomous snakebites. Unproven and harmful methods for snakebite treatment practiced by the community and traditional faith healers could be dangerous leading to high mortality. Therefore, a multi-sectoral approach of community awareness, mapping of vulnerable populations, capacity building of health care facility, empowerment of health care workers (HCWs) could be useful for reducing the mortality and morbidity due to snakebite envenoming in India. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T17:36:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-387cc310a6e2467bbb3de48c07019e04 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T17:36:24Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-387cc310a6e2467bbb3de48c07019e042022-12-21T20:12:19ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032021-01-01168Perceptions, awareness on snakebite envenoming among the tribal community and health care providers of Dahanu block, Palghar District in Maharashtra, IndiaItta Krishna ChaaithanyaDipak AbnaveHimmatrao BawaskarUjwal PachalkarSandip TarukarNeha SalviPrabhakar BhoyeArun YadavSmita D. MahaleRahul K. Gajbhiye<h4>Introduction</h4> India has remarkably the highest number of snakebite cases contributing to nearly 50% of the global snakebite deaths. Despite this fact, there is limited knowledge and awareness regarding the management practices for snakebite in the Indian population. The study aimed to explore the knowledge, awareness, and perception of snakes and snakebites, first aid, and treatment amongst the community and the frontline health workers in a tribal block of Dahanu, Maharashtra, India. <h4>Methods</h4> A cross-sectional study was carried out from June 2016 to October 2018 in the Dahanu Block, Maharashtra. Perceptions, knowledge, awareness, and first-aid practices on the snakebites among the community were studied through focus group discussions (FGDs). Semi-structured questionnaires were used to assess the knowledge, awareness, and experience of the traditional faith healers, snake rescuers, frontline health workers on the snakebites and their management. A facility check survey was conducted using pre-tested questionnaires for different levels of the government health care facilities. <h4>Results</h4> Most of the tribal community was aware of the commonly found snakes and their hiding places. However, there was inadequate knowledge on the identification and classification of venomous snakes. Belief in a snake god, the perception that snakes will not come out during thunderstorms, change in taste sensation, the ability of tamarind seeds or magnet to reduce the venom effect were some of the superstitions reported by the tribal community. The application of a harmful method (Tourniquet) as the first aid for snakebite was practiced by the tribal community. They preferred herbal medicines and visiting the traditional faith healers before shifting the patient to the government health facility. The knowledge on the ability to identify venomous snakebites and anti-venom was significantly higher amongst nurses and accredited social health activists (ASHAs) than auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs) and multi-purpose workers (MPWs) (p < 0.05). None of the traditional faith healers; but nearly 60% of snake rescuers were aware of anti-venom. Fifty percent of the medical officers in Dahanu block did not have correct knowledge about the Krait bite symptoms, and renal complications due to the Russell viper bite. <h4>Conclusions</h4> Inappropriate perception, inadequate awareness, and knowledge about snakes and snakebites may predispose the tribal community to increased risks of venomous snakebites. Unproven and harmful methods for snakebite treatment practiced by the community and traditional faith healers could be dangerous leading to high mortality. Therefore, a multi-sectoral approach of community awareness, mapping of vulnerable populations, capacity building of health care facility, empowerment of health care workers (HCWs) could be useful for reducing the mortality and morbidity due to snakebite envenoming in India.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8341635/?tool=EBI |
| spellingShingle | Itta Krishna Chaaithanya Dipak Abnave Himmatrao Bawaskar Ujwal Pachalkar Sandip Tarukar Neha Salvi Prabhakar Bhoye Arun Yadav Smita D. Mahale Rahul K. Gajbhiye Perceptions, awareness on snakebite envenoming among the tribal community and health care providers of Dahanu block, Palghar District in Maharashtra, India PLoS ONE |
| title | Perceptions, awareness on snakebite envenoming among the tribal community and health care providers of Dahanu block, Palghar District in Maharashtra, India |
| title_full | Perceptions, awareness on snakebite envenoming among the tribal community and health care providers of Dahanu block, Palghar District in Maharashtra, India |
| title_fullStr | Perceptions, awareness on snakebite envenoming among the tribal community and health care providers of Dahanu block, Palghar District in Maharashtra, India |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perceptions, awareness on snakebite envenoming among the tribal community and health care providers of Dahanu block, Palghar District in Maharashtra, India |
| title_short | Perceptions, awareness on snakebite envenoming among the tribal community and health care providers of Dahanu block, Palghar District in Maharashtra, India |
| title_sort | perceptions awareness on snakebite envenoming among the tribal community and health care providers of dahanu block palghar district in maharashtra india |
| url | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8341635/?tool=EBI |
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