Table 1 Awareness and perceptions of the 176 participant farmers on snakes, first aid, treatment and prevention of snakebites
Awareness/perception | Number of participants responded | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|---|
Venomous Snakes | Â | Â | Â |
Most of the snakes in Sri Lanka are non-venomous | 176 | 131 (74.4%) | 45 (25.6%) |
First aid | Â | Â | Â |
Bitten part of the body should be kept immobilized | 171 | 153 (89.5%) | 18 (10.5%) |
Bitten site should not be excised | 173 | 138 (79.8%) | 35 (20.2%) |
Aspirin should not be given for pain relief | 169 | 131 (77.5%) | 38 (22.5%) |
Beverages containing alcohol should not be given to the patient for pain relief | 172 | 153 (89.0%) | 19 (11.0%) |
Application of tight band (tourniquet) proximal to the site of bite | 171 | 128 (74.9%) | 43 (25.1%) |
Treatment | Â | Â | Â |
Capturing of the offending snake for identification is not essential in treating the patient | 175 | 62 (35.4%) | 113 (64.6%) |
Snakebites can be successfully treated in Sri Lanka | 169 | 126 (74.6%) | 43 (25.4%) |
Antivenom is available only in some hospitals in Sri Lanka | 169 | 148 (87.6%) | 21 (12.4%) |
Preventive measures | Â | Â | Â |
Avoiding of storing paddy harvest inside houses | 172 | 143 (83.1%) | 29 (16.9%) |
Controlling rodents inside the houses | 175 | 173 (98.9%) | 2 (1.1%) |
Storing firewood outside the houses | 165 | 125 (75.8%) | 40 (24.2%) |
Clearing an area, devoid of leaf litter and grass around the houses | 174 | 171 (98.3%) | 3 (1.7%) |
Tapping the ground with a stick, while walking outside at dusk | 168 | 142 (84.5%) | 26 (15.5%) |
Carring a torch or a flame while walking outside at dusk | 176 | 175 (99.4%) | 1 (0.6%) |
Wearing protective shoes while walking outside at dusk and while farming activities | 171 | 160 (93.6%) | 11 (6.4%) |
Preferred treatment method | Â | Â | Â |
Native/Ayurveda treatment | Â | 20 (11.5%) | Â |
Western treatment from a government hospital | Â | 151 (86.8%) | Â |
No special preference for one treatment method | Â | 3 (1.7%) | Â |