Conference Papers
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This collection contains abstracts of conference papers, presented at local and international conferences by the staff of the Faculty of Medicine
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Item An assessment of knowledge on common snakes, snakebite prevention, and first aid among adults of the Ragama MOH area(Young Zoologists’ Association of Sri Lanka (YZA), 2025-01) Hettiarachchi, I.U.; Jayasinghe, A.G.; Ilukpitiya, I.S.L.; Imanji, R.P.C.; Huzair, M. M.M.; Jayathissa, R.N.U.; Kurukulasuriya, S.A.F.Snakes, as keystone species, play a vital role in maintaining ecosystem equilibrium while signi-cantly inuencing human-nature interactions and sociocultural dynamics. Poor public knowledge of snakes, snakebites, and rst-aid have contributed to an increment in disease burden and unneces-sary killing of snakes. The World Health Organization identies snakebites as a ‘neglected tropical disease’. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the knowledge on common snakes and snakebites among the adults of the Ragama MOH area. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted, using cluster sampling with a sample population of 637 residents (mean = 41.31 years, SD = 15.59). Demographic and study-specic data were collected through an interviewer-administered questionnaire which was developed with existent scientic literature and clinical guidelines; validated by experts on the topic and a pilot test; delivered in Sinhala and Tamil by investigators who were native speakers and trained together for consistency. Colour calibrated plates were used for species identication. Data collection was conducted in January 2023 after acquiring ethical approval. Informed consent was obtained from participants. A unied score was calculated for each participant considering the responses in four domains: the ability to identify species, their venom status, bite prevention measures, and rst aid. Those who achieved an overall mark of 50 % or above were attributed as having ‘good knowledge’. Statistically signicant associations were identied using the Chi-square test (α = 0.05). Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS software (version 22). Of the participants, 59.18 % (± 0.49 %) had a ‘good knowledge’ overall, while 98.11 % (± 0.01 %) identied Naja naja, 56.67 % (± 0.02 %) identied Daboia russelii, 44.11 % (± 0.02 %) identied Hypnale spp., 36.26 % (± 0.02 %) identied Bungaurus ceylonicus and 28.41 % (± 0.02 %) identied Bungarus caeruleus. Of the participants, 20.9 % (± 0.7 %), 22.4 % (± 0.8 %), 96.8 % (± 0.6 %), and 67.9 % (± 0.7 %) obtained 50 % or above marks respectively on the four domains mentioned above. Statistically signicant associations were recognized with sex, where males had better knowledge (p = 1.7x10-5, φ = 0.17); education on snakes (p = 4.02x10-7, φ = 0.21); occupation, where unskilled labourers, agricultural and shery workers had good knowledge (p = 2.0x10-3, V = 0.21). Although the overall mark was satisfactory, a signicant knowledge gap was observed in identifying even the highly venomous species and their venom sta-tus. This deficiency presents an opportunity for community level interventions, such as workshops, coexistence programs, and educational groups. These initiatives could help reduce the negative im-pacts of snakebites on public health, the economy, and biodiversity while simultaneously improving biodiversity conservation and public health outcomes.Item Knowledge on common snakes of Sri Lanka, bite prevention, first aid and associated factors among the adults of Ragama medical officer of health area(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2023) Jayasinghe, A.G.; Hettiarachchi, I.U.; Ilukpitiya, I.S.L.; Imanji, R.P.C.; Huzair, M.M.M.; Jayatissa, R.N.U.; Kurukulasuriya, S.A.F.INTRODUCTION: Snakes, being keystone species in maintaining the existence of ecosystems, always have had a unique influence on humans throughout history. Poor public understanding of snakes has contributed to an increase in disease burden from snakebites. World Health Organisation identifies snake bites as a neglected tropical disease. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the knowledge on common snakes of Sri Lanka and snakebites among the adults of Ragama Medical Officer of Health area. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done using cluster sampling with a sample population of 637 residents (323 females, 314 males, mean age of the population 41.31, SD of 15.59). Interviewer administered questionnaire was used. A unified score was calculated for each participant considering ability to identify of common snakes, knowledge on venom status, bite prevention measures and first aid for snake bites. Participants who achieved 50% or above were attributed with 'good knowledge'. SPSS (version 22) was used. Statistically significant associations were identified by performing the Chi-square test. RESULTS: 59% of the total population had a 'good knowledge'. Of the highly venomous snakes, 98% identified Naja naja, 57% identified Daboia russelii, 44% identified Hypnale Spp and Craspedocephalus sp, 36% identified Bungaurus ceylonicus and 28% identified Bungarus caeruleus. Statistically significant associations regarding knowledge were recognised with sex, previous education on snakes and occupation. CONCLUSIONS: The population had a satisfactory knowledge and awareness on the domains examined. Statistically significant associations were noted between knowledge and sex, participants' occupation and previous education on snakes.