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Health-seeking behaviors of snakebite envenomation victims in Bugesera District of Rwanda in 2020.
Date Issued
2021-09
Author(s)
Happy Tahirih Kampire
University of Global Health Equity
Leandre Ishema
University of Global Health Equity
Abstract
Background: Snakebite Envenomation (SBE) is a neglected tropical disease affecting over 2
million people globally. It presents a public health threat to the Rwandan community, both for
humans and animals. Between 2017 and 2018, the Eastern province of Rwanda recorded the
highest cases of snakebites among human victims (39%) compared to other provinces. Proper
and timely management of SBE can be lifesaving but depends on victims’ health-seeking
behavior. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the health-seeking behaviors of SBE
human victims and livestock owners whose animals were bitten in Bugesera District of Rwanda
in 2020.
Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted between June and July 2021,
among 395 snakebite victims from three sectors in Bugesera District, in the Eastern Province of
Rwanda. A quantitative questionnaire was used to assess forms of care sought by snakebite
victims in the study location.
Results: Seeking care through informal sources was the most common source of care for
snakebite victims, both human and livestock owners (96.1%), followed by seeking care from
formal sources such as health facilities and veterinarians (5.4%). Nearly half (44.6%) of human
victims considered trust in the service provider to be the most important factor affecting their
choice of where to seek care. This was followed by proximity, affordability, and other factors
such as recommendations from neighbors. Having health insurance in 2020 and past snakebite
experience were significantly (p=0.017 and p=0.021 respectively) associated with the type of
care sought.
Conclusion: This study highlights care seeking behavior gaps impacting the effective
management of SBE in Rwanda. The health-seeking behaviors not only affect access to timely
treatment but presents a challenge to Rwanda’s 2024 roadmap to eliminate NTDs and reduce the
national burden of SBE by 50%. Therefore, community education on recommended first-aid
practices and appropriate health-seeking channels and collaborations with traditional healers,
present important avenues through which Rwanda can disseminate formal care for snakebite
victims
million people globally. It presents a public health threat to the Rwandan community, both for
humans and animals. Between 2017 and 2018, the Eastern province of Rwanda recorded the
highest cases of snakebites among human victims (39%) compared to other provinces. Proper
and timely management of SBE can be lifesaving but depends on victims’ health-seeking
behavior. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the health-seeking behaviors of SBE
human victims and livestock owners whose animals were bitten in Bugesera District of Rwanda
in 2020.
Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted between June and July 2021,
among 395 snakebite victims from three sectors in Bugesera District, in the Eastern Province of
Rwanda. A quantitative questionnaire was used to assess forms of care sought by snakebite
victims in the study location.
Results: Seeking care through informal sources was the most common source of care for
snakebite victims, both human and livestock owners (96.1%), followed by seeking care from
formal sources such as health facilities and veterinarians (5.4%). Nearly half (44.6%) of human
victims considered trust in the service provider to be the most important factor affecting their
choice of where to seek care. This was followed by proximity, affordability, and other factors
such as recommendations from neighbors. Having health insurance in 2020 and past snakebite
experience were significantly (p=0.017 and p=0.021 respectively) associated with the type of
care sought.
Conclusion: This study highlights care seeking behavior gaps impacting the effective
management of SBE in Rwanda. The health-seeking behaviors not only affect access to timely
treatment but presents a challenge to Rwanda’s 2024 roadmap to eliminate NTDs and reduce the
national burden of SBE by 50%. Therefore, community education on recommended first-aid
practices and appropriate health-seeking channels and collaborations with traditional healers,
present important avenues through which Rwanda can disseminate formal care for snakebite
victims
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