Health-seeking behaviours and traditional healer practices for snakebite in rural and tribal communities in southern India

Background: Nearly 60 000 Indians die of snakebite envenoming each year. Most deaths occur in rural communities and remote tribal settlements. We describe snakebite-related epidemiology and health-seeking behaviours in a rural (Timiri) and remote tribal block (Jawadhu Hills) in Tamil Nadu, India.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey used structured questionnaires for information pertaining to snakebites and their treatment in the preceding year. Treatment-seeking behaviour from the moment reported until recovery was mapped. Traditional healers residing in the two blocks were also surveyed.

Results: Snakebite incidence and mortality were 174/100 000 population and 2.7/100 000 population in Jawadhu Hills and 194/100 000 population and 2.6/100 000 population in Timiri, respectively. More snakebite victims applied tourniquets in Jawadhu Hills (90%) than in Timiri (69%). Traditional healers were the first contact for 64% in Jawadhu Hills. Ambulances and buses were reported as unavailable in Jawadhu Hills. Traditional healers in Jawadhu Hills did not refer snakebite victims to hospitals.

Conclusions: Three challenges to snakebite mitigation in Indian rural and tribal communities highlighted in this study are potentially harmful first aid, a disconnect between traditional healers and the public health system and a lack of emergency transport to health facilities. Addressing these challenges would necessitate community awareness, traditional healer engagement and improved means of public transportation.