Snake bite envenomation seen at a specialist hospital in Zamfara state, North-Western Nigeria

Sakajiki, Aminu Muhammad; Ilah, Garba Bilkisu; Lukman, Abdul-Aziz Shehu; Yakasai, Ahmad M.

doi:10.4103/1755-6783.208730

Cited by 4 publications

(16 citation statements)

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“…Our data from all three respondent groups indicated that farmlands and bushes, and to a lesser extent, residential areas and roads are typical habitats for snakebite, as corroborated by several other studies in rural Africa [16, 31, 38, 50, 51]. Likewise, majority of bites occur during the peak farming periods (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…We consistently found that young to middle-aged men (age group = 15-44 years) were most at risk of snakebites, corroborating similar findings from Ghana [22, 23, 24], other parts of West Africa [15, 25, 26, 27, 44, 46, 47] and Africa in general [30, 34, 48, 49, 50]. Adolescent and young men in their twenties are among the most active and adventurous, albeit least cautious, section of rural African people [24, 27, 44, 51]. They expose themselves to snake encounters by risky behaviour during land clearing, harvesting, bush and charcoal burning, hunting and commuting on foot during dark or early morning hours with impaired visibility in dim light and dense vegetation [24, 47, 50].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

“…Minors and the elderly who are traditionally home-bound, are less involved in farming activity, and are generally more cautious in their behaviour, which possibly explains their much lower snakebite vulnerability [31]. Some girls and the elderly were however bitten at home or in school facilities, indicating that everyone is at risk of snakebites [7, 24, 31, 43, 51, 52]. Contrary to our findings, some studies in Africa actually report relatively higher snakebite prevalence in children, including girls, probably as a result of higher child-labour engagement or poorer parental care and supervision in such areas [23, 31, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 56].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Likewise, majority of bites occur during the peak farming periods (e.g. shea nut, millet and yam) when land is prepared for planting (March-April), maintained by weeding (May-June), and harvested (June-October) [23, 47, 51]. Our long-term bivariate rainfall-snakebite data indirectly reflect the strong link between peak seasons of farming and rainfall, partly because artificial water sources are largely unavailable to the small-scale peasant farmer in northern Ghana and other parts of arid savanna zones in Africa.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As agricultural mechanisation is particularly low in northern Ghana, predominantly manual activities using the limbs expose farmers to snakes concealed in vegetation, soil and crops. This may explain why those extremities are the most prone to snakebites [23, 44, 47, 51]. Farming activities primarily take place during morning or late afternoon in order to avoid excessive sun exposure and heat during midday.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Epidemiology, ecology and human perceptions of snakebites in a savanna community of northern Ghana

Musah

Ameade

Attuquayefio

et al. 2019

Preprint

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Epidemiology, ecology and human perceptions of snakebites in a savanna community of northern Ghana

Musah

Ameade

Attuquayefio

et al. 2019

Preprint

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Health professionals’ over estimation of knowledge on snakebite management, a threat to survival of snake bite victims - A cross-sectional study in Ghana

Ameade

Bonney

Boateng³

2020

Preprint

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BackgroundAccording to the World Health Organization, snakebites, a common occupational hazard in developing countries accounts an annual loss of between 81,000 and 139, 000 lives following 5 million of bites of which 2.7 million results in envenomation. Since snakebite associated morbidity and mortality is more prevalent in agriculture economies such as Ghana, health professionals should be optimally knowledgeable on how to manage incidence of snakebites. Lack of knowledge or overestimation of a professional’s knowledge can be affects heath delivery especially for emergency situations such as snakebites. The three (3) Tongu districts South Eastern Ghana which are rurally situated with agriculture as the major source of livelihood for their inhabitants are prone to snakebite incidence hence the need to assess whether the health professionals in these districts are well equipped by way of knowledge to handle such emergencies and whether they are able to rightly estimate their knowledge with regards to snakebite management.Methodology/Principal findingsData was collected using a de novo semi-structured questionnaire administered through google form whose link was sent via to 186 health workers made up of nurses, midwives, physician assistants, medical doctors, pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians. This data was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 25. Association between variables was determined using the appropriate tools where necessary, using a confidence interval of 95% and significance assumed when p ≤ 0.05. This study found male health workers significantly more knowledgeable about snakebite management (11.53±5.67 vrs 9.64±5.46; p = 0.022) but it was the females who overestimated their knowledge level (27.9% vrs 24.1%). The medical doctors exhibited the best knowledge on snakebite management with the registered general nurses least knowledgeable. Although most professionals overestimated their knowledge, the registered general nurses were the worst at that (53.7%). Overall knowledge of health care professionals on snakebite management was below average [10.60±5.62/22 (48.2%)] but previous in-service training and involvement in management of snakebite were associated with better knowledge. Respondents who had no previous training overestimated their knowledge level compared to those who had some post qualification training on snakebite management (7.5% vrs 38.1%). Greatest knowledge deficit of respondents was on the management of ASV associated adverse reactions.ConclusionHealth workers in rural Ghana overestimated their knowledge about snakebite management although their knowledge was low. Training schools therefore need to incorporate snakebite management in their curriculum and health authorities should also expose health workers to more in-service training on this neglected tropical disease.Author summaryWorld Health Organization estimates that every year between 81,000 and 139,000 die due snake bites across the world. Mismanagement of snakebites can result in increased disabilities and death if not handled by knowledgeable health workers. This study assessed if various categories of health workers made up of professionals from the medical, pharmaceutical and nursing categories in the three neighbouring Tongu districts in Ghana have the appropriate level of knowledge on snakebite management. Using a newly developed questionnaire, data was collected from the respondents using google forms sent to their WhatsApp platforms. Data was then analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 25. Results were presented in the form of tables and association between the variables also determined. The level of knowledge of sampled health workers on snakebite was below average especially among the nursing professionals. However, those who had some previous post qualification training on snakebite management exhibited a significant superior knowledge and least overestimated their knowledge hence policy makers should through workshops equip health workers especially the nurses on snakebites so that rural dwellers whose health care needs are mainly attended to by nurses can be better managed when they suffer snakebites.

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Epidemiology, ecology and human perceptions of snakebites in a savanna community of northern Ghana

et al. 2019

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Background Worldwide, snakebite envenomations total ~2.7 million reported cases annually with ~100,000 fatalities. Since 2009, snakebite envenomation has intermittently been classified as a very important ‘neglected tropical disease’ by the World Health Organisation. Despite this emerging awareness, limited efforts have been geared towards addressing the serious public health implications of snakebites, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where baseline epidemiological and ecological data remain incomplete. Due to poverty as well as limited infrastructure and public health facilities, people in rural Africa, including Ghana, often have no other choice than to seek treatment from traditional medical practitioners (TMPs). The African ‘snakebite crisis’ is highlighted here using regionally representative complementary data from a community-based epidemiological and ecological study in the savanna zone of northern Ghana. Methodology and findings Our baseline study involved two data collection methods in the Savelugu-Nanton District (in 2019 the district was separated into Savelugu and Nanton districts) in northern Ghana, comprising a cross-sectional study of 1,000 residents and 24 TMPs between December 2008 and May 2009. Semi-structured interviews, as well as collection of retrospective snakebite and concurrent rainfall records from the Savelugu-Nanton District Hospital and Ghana Meteorological Authority respectively over 10-years (1999–2008) were used in the study. Variables tested included demography, human activity patterns, seasonality, snake ecology and clinical reports. Complementary data showed higher snakebite prevalence during the rainy season, and a hump-shaped correlation between rainfall intensity and snakebite incidences. Almost 6% of respondents had experienced a personal snakebite, whereas ~60% of respondents had witnessed a total of 799 snakebite cases. Out of a total of 857 reported snakebite cases, 24 (~2.8%) died. The highest snakebite prevalence was recorded for males in the age group 15–44 years during farming activities, with most bites occurring in the leg/foot region. The highest snakebite rate was within farmlands, most severe bites frequently caused by the Carpet viper ( Echis ocellatus ). Conclusion The relatively high community-based prevalence of ~6%, and case fatality ratio of ~3%, indicate that snakebites represent an important public health risk in northern Ghana. Based on the high number of respondents and long recording period, we believe these data truly reflect the general situation in the rural northern savanna zone of Ghana and West Africa at large. We recommend increased efforts from both local and international health authorities to address the current snakebite health crisis generally compromising livelihoods and productivity of rural farming communities in West Africa.

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Snake bite envenomation seen at a specialist hospital in Zamfara state, North-Western Nigeria

Cited by 4 publications

References 0 publications

Epidemiology, ecology and human perceptions of snakebites in a savanna community of northern Ghana

Epidemiology, ecology and human perceptions of snakebites in a savanna community of northern Ghana

Health professionals’ over estimation of knowledge on snakebite management, a threat to survival of snake bite victims - A cross-sectional study in Ghana

Epidemiology, ecology and human perceptions of snakebites in a savanna community of northern Ghana

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