Using Geographical Information Systems to Identify Populations in Need of Improved Accessibility to Antivenom Treatment for Snakebite Envenoming in Costa Rica

Abstract

IntroductionSnakebite accidents are an important health problem in rural areas of tropical countries worldwide, including Costa Rica, where most bites are caused by the pit-viper Bothrops asper. The treatment of these potentially fatal accidents is based on the timely administration of specific antivenom. In many regions of the world, insufficient health care systems and lack of antivenom in remote and poor areas where snakebites are common, means that efficient treatment is unavailable for many snakebite victims, leading to unnecessary mortality and morbidity. In this study, geographical information systems (GIS) were used to identify populations in Costa Rica with a need of improved access to antivenom treatment: those living in areas with a high risk of snakebites and long time to reach antivenom treatment.Method/Principal FindingsPopulations living in areas with high risk of snakebites were identified using two approaches: one based on the district-level reported incidence, and another based on mapping environmental factors favoring B. asper presence. Time to reach treatment using ambulance was estimated using cost surface analysis, thereby enabling adjustment of transportation speed by road availability and quality, topography and land use. By mapping populations in high risk of snakebites and the estimated time to treatment, populations with need of improved treatment access were identified.Conclusion/SignificanceThis study demonstrates the usefulness of GIS for improving treatment of snakebites. By mapping reported incidence, risk factors, location of existing treatment resources, and the time estimated to reach these for at-risk populations, rational allocation of treatment resources is facilitated.

Epidemiological study of snakebite cases in Brazilian Western Amazonia

“…Approximately 88% of the patients were literate and 63% of them were rural workers. The number of snakebite cases increased during the brightest period of the day, although most venomous snakes have nocturnal habits, which corroborates the results of previous studies 11,[18][19][20] . This study showed that the incidence of snakebites was higher among rural workers aged 20-49 years, affecting especially the lower limbs (Table 2) 1,2,9,25 , and 44 (47.8%) patients used alternative medicine ( Table 3).…”

“…This report can be confirmed using the data from the Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) 1 . Snakebites frequently occur in the lower limbs primarily due to the lack of use of protective equipment during fieldwork, as reported in previous studies 19, [21][22][23] .…”

Snakebite Envenoming – A Combined Density Equalizing Mapping and Scientometric Analysis of the Publication History

“…They range, for example, from neurotoxicological aspects [39], immune responses [37], phylogeny, venom composition of diverse species [38], the analysis of geographical information [40] to basic science issues [41–43] and public health [44]. Despite the burden of disease caused by snakebite envenoming and the need for increased transnational and national funding, there has been no in-depth scientometric analysis of this topic so far.…”

Understanding the use of geographical information systems (GIS) in health informatics research: A review

“…For example, GIS has been used to assess populations in Central and South America that need access to anti-venom treatment sites for snakebites 17. Another area for GIS includes the examination of maternity care access 18.…”