Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Saliyapura, 50008 Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Saliyapura, 50008 Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.
J Occup Med Toxicol. 2014 May 13;9:20. doi: 10.1186/1745-6673-9-20. eCollection 2014.
Snakebite is a global health problem associated with high morbidity and mortality. In Sri Lanka, snakebite is mainly an occupational health hazard associated with farming. Understanding awareness and perceptions in risk populations on the preventive measures, first aid and treatment for snakebite becomes pivotal in designing snakebite prevention and control programs. Using an investigator assisted self completed questionnaire, we assessed the awareness and perceptions of 176 part-time and full-time, Chena and paddy farmers from three dry zone districts of Sri Lanka where agriculture is the main economic activity.
High percentages of the participants were aware of practices that minimize snakebites in houses and outside, available treatments and most of the recommended first aid measures. Western medical treatment was preferred by the vast majority of the farmers over the traditional treatment.
Some of the protective measures that the farmers were aware of are not practiced generally in Sri Lanka, suggesting a knowledge-practice mismatch. We suggest studies to understand the effects of socioeconomic and cultural determinants on snakebite prevention in Sri Lanka.
蛇伤是一个全球性的健康问题，与高发病率和死亡率有关。在斯里兰卡，蛇伤主要是与农业有关的职业健康危害。了解风险人群对蛇伤预防措施、急救和治疗的认识和看法，对于设计蛇伤预防和控制计划至关重要。本研究使用调查员协助的自我完成问卷，评估了斯里兰卡三个干旱地区的 176 名兼职和全职切纳和稻田农民对蛇伤的认识和看法，这些地区的农业是主要的经济活动。
大多数参与者都知道在房屋内外减少蛇伤的做法、可用的治疗方法和大多数推荐的急救措施。绝大多数农民更喜欢西医治疗，而不是传统治疗。
农民所知道的一些保护措施在斯里兰卡并没有普遍实施，这表明存在知识与实践的脱节。我们建议进行研究，以了解社会经济和文化因素对斯里兰卡蛇伤预防的影响。
