Snakebite outbreak and associated risk factors in Donga, Taraba State, Nigeria, June, 2016

Snakebite outbreak and associated risk factors in Donga, Taraba State, Nigeria, June, 2016

Snakebite envenoming is a public health problem among rural communities in Nigeria. In June, 2016, an outbreak of snakebites in Donga Local Government Area, Taraba State, north-east Nigeria, was reported. We investigated the outbreak to identify risk factors for snakebites and to institute appropria...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Pan African medical journal Vol. 37; no. 82; p. 82
Main Authors: Igawe, Philip Bobu, Muhammad, Jibreel Omar, Nwokoro, Ugochukwu Uzoechina, Abubakar, Joshua Difa, Isah, Salisu Idris, Aketemo, Udi, Balogun, Muhammad Shakir, Nguku, Patrick
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Uganda African Field Epidemiology Network 22-09-2020
The African Field Epidemiology Network
The Pan African Medical Journal
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Animals
Case-Control Studies
Child
Child, Preschool
Disease Outbreaks
Epidemics
Fatalities
Female
Focus Groups
Health surveillance
Humans
iechis spp
Interviews as Topic
Local government
Male
Middle Aged
nigeria
Nigeria - epidemiology
Public Health
Risk Factors
Rural areas
Rural Population
Short Communication
Snake bites
Snake Bites - epidemiology
Snake Bites - mortality
snakebite
Snakes
Software
Tropical diseases
Vegetation
Young Adult
Nigeria
Snakebite
risk factors
Nigeria
Echis spp
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Summary:Snakebite envenoming is a public health problem among rural communities in Nigeria. In June, 2016, an outbreak of snakebites in Donga Local Government Area, Taraba State, north-east Nigeria, was reported. We investigated the outbreak to identify risk factors for snakebites and to institute appropriate control measures. We conducted an unmatched case control study to identify risk factors for snakebite in the communities involved. We conducted key informant interviews and Focus Group Discussions with stakeholders in the communities to obtain information on the community´s perspective of the outbreak. There were Sixty-one (61) snakebite cases with Fifteen (15) deaths [CFR 24.6%]. Majority of the mortalities [37(60.3%)] were males. Median age was 27 years (Range: 5-58). Kadarko ward had the highest [26 (42.6%)] number of cases. Most snakebites 12 (44.4%) occurred in the farm, 27 (96.4%) vipers Echis spp were responsible for most of the bite and most [26 (92.9%)] victims sought care from traditional healers. Residing in Kadarko ward and having a history of snakebite in the past were risk factors [Odds ratio of 2.9 (95% CI 1.1-7.4) and 5.9 (95% CI 1.1-32.5)] respectively. Abandonment of homes for two years due to communal clashes has been thought to have allowed snake populations to grow. The snakebite outbreak in Donga, Taraba State affected predominantly male farmers in the rural wards. Residing in Kadarko ward and having a previous history of snakebite were risk factors.
ISSN:1937-8688
1937-8688
DOI:10.11604/pamj.2020.37.82.17288