An assessment of knowledge on common snakes, snakebite prevention, and first aid among adults of the Ragama MOH area

Abstract

Snakes, as keystone species, play a vital role in maintaining ecosystem equilibrium while signi-cantly inuencing 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 identies 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-specic data were collected through an interviewer-administered questionnaire which was developed with existent scientic 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 identication. Data collection was conducted in January 2023 after acquiring ethical approval. Informed consent was obtained from participants. A unied 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 signicant associations were identied 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 %) identied Naja naja, 56.67 % (± 0.02 %) identied Daboia russelii, 44.11 % (± 0.02 %) identied Hypnale spp., 36.26 % (± 0.02 %) identied Bungaurus ceylonicus and 28.41 % (± 0.02 %) identied 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 signicant 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 signicant 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.