Conference Papers
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/6561
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.