Care-seeking behaviour of suspected snakebite cases admitted in a medical college of West Bengal: A pathway analysis.
Care-seeking
Pathway analysis
Snakebite
Journal
Medical journal, Armed Forces India
ISSN: 0377-1237
Titre abrégé: Med J Armed Forces India
Pays: India
ID NLM: 7602492
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Jan 2021
Jan 2021
Historique:
received:
26
11
2018
accepted:
22
11
2019
entrez:
25
1
2021
pubmed:
26
1
2021
medline:
26
1
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Snakebite is a time decisive medical emergency requiring contact with health facility at the earliest. Many snakebite victims yet seek care from traditional healers (THs) or village quacks (VQs) before reaching an appropriate facility, which leads to adverse consequences. This study was conducted to assess care-seeking behaviour and pathways followed in reaching appropriate facilities among suspected snakebite cases and to identify associated factors. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at a medical college in West Bengal. All suspected snakebite cases admitted during a reference period of two months were studied. Study subjects and/or accompanying persons were interviewed for care-seeking behaviours and pathways followed. Among the 393 study participants, most were ≤30 years of age, men, agricultural workers, of lower middle and lower socioeconomic class and only 69.5% had formal schooling. The commonest place of occurrence was the agricultural field (40.7%), and the commonest biting site was the lower extremity (77.6%). Only half of participants (55.2%) used immediate correct measures at the biting site. Incorrect practices included tourniquet application (29.5%), use of herbal preparation (7.1%), blade shaving at site (2.8%) etc. As first care-seeking points, 15% and 24.9% of cases visited THs and VQs, respectively. Pathway analysis revealed that unfavourable pathway was followed by 39.9% participants. Two unfavourable points were consulted by 3.8% of participants. The care-seeking pathway was significantly associated with religion, caste, education and socioeconomic class. Findings of this study highlight the urgent need for behaviour change interventions addressing the myths and misconceptions of people regarding snakebite.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Snakebite is a time decisive medical emergency requiring contact with health facility at the earliest. Many snakebite victims yet seek care from traditional healers (THs) or village quacks (VQs) before reaching an appropriate facility, which leads to adverse consequences. This study was conducted to assess care-seeking behaviour and pathways followed in reaching appropriate facilities among suspected snakebite cases and to identify associated factors.
METHODS
METHODS
A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at a medical college in West Bengal. All suspected snakebite cases admitted during a reference period of two months were studied. Study subjects and/or accompanying persons were interviewed for care-seeking behaviours and pathways followed.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Among the 393 study participants, most were ≤30 years of age, men, agricultural workers, of lower middle and lower socioeconomic class and only 69.5% had formal schooling. The commonest place of occurrence was the agricultural field (40.7%), and the commonest biting site was the lower extremity (77.6%). Only half of participants (55.2%) used immediate correct measures at the biting site. Incorrect practices included tourniquet application (29.5%), use of herbal preparation (7.1%), blade shaving at site (2.8%) etc. As first care-seeking points, 15% and 24.9% of cases visited THs and VQs, respectively. Pathway analysis revealed that unfavourable pathway was followed by 39.9% participants. Two unfavourable points were consulted by 3.8% of participants. The care-seeking pathway was significantly associated with religion, caste, education and socioeconomic class.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
Findings of this study highlight the urgent need for behaviour change interventions addressing the myths and misconceptions of people regarding snakebite.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33487867
doi: 10.1016/j.mjafi.2019.11.003
pii: S0377-1237(19)30128-5
pmc: PMC7809565
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
58-62Informations de copyright
© 2020 Director General, Armed Forces Medical Services. Published by Elsevier, a division of RELX India Pvt. Ltd.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
The authors have none to declare.
Références
J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis. 2017 Aug 8;23:38
pubmed: 28804495
Singapore Med J. 2012 Mar;53(3):203-7
pubmed: 22434296
N Engl J Med. 2002 Aug 1;347(5):347-56
pubmed: 12151473
Indian J Public Health. 2014 Jan-Mar;58(1):17-21
pubmed: 24748352
J Emerg Trauma Shock. 2016 Oct-Dec;9(4):151-154
pubmed: 27904261
J Indian Med Assoc. 1992 Jun;90(6):145-7
pubmed: 1522302
Indian Pediatr. 2011 Jan;48(1):66-7
pubmed: 21317471
Wilderness Environ Med. 2014 Mar;25(1):35-40
pubmed: 24412659
Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 2011 Oct 02;9(1):153-74
pubmed: 23983332
PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2011 Apr 12;5(4):e1018
pubmed: 21532748
Indian J Med Res. 2013;138:38-59
pubmed: 24056555
Afr J Phys Health Educ Recreat Dance. 2014 Sep;20(Suppl 2):24-34
pubmed: 26594664
Rev Soc Bras Med Trop. 2015;48 Suppl 1:34-41
pubmed: 26061369
Trop Med Int Health. 2007 Nov;12(11):1386-90
pubmed: 18045265
Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 1994 Dec;88(6):665-71
pubmed: 7893182
J Assoc Physicians India. 2008 Feb;56:88-95
pubmed: 18472507