Concern over Orthodox and First Aids Treatments of Snakebite Victims in Kaltungo L.G.A, Gombe State, Nigeria

Abstract

Snakebite by venomous snake causes multi-dimensional fast adverse clinical and non-clinical effects; including mortality and morbidity. Hence, the need for urgent first aid and treatments always in such conditions. Unfortunately, most of the bites occur in very remote rural areas with no health facilities at all or poor health facilities where available for proper treatment. So, the alternative as a matter of necessity is self-help by means of traditional methods of “first aid or treatment”. Unfortunately, the disadvantage of such methods far out-weigh the advantages in many ways for many reasons such as toxicity, none efficacy, lack of hygiene, unknown dosage and delay in going for proper health care early, due to hopeful confidence. The Tropical and Sub-Saharan regions of the globe are more affected; Nigeria is inclusive with the high burden in 12 States. This study was aimed at evaluating the level of dependence on some of these traditional methods of first and treatment of snakebite victims in Kaltungo, Gombe State. After getting ethical clearance from the State Ministry of Health and consent of the victims; a simple questionnaire was used to collect relevant information regarding first aids and treatments from 200 snakebite victims. The study showed that 167 (83.5%) of the victims took at least one form of first aid and/or treatment or the other before visiting the health centre for proper care. The first aids/treatments methods include at least one traditional methods – 27 (13.5%), orthodox only – 4 victims (2%), spiritual method only – 3 (1.5%), tourniquet method only – 7 (3.5%) combinations of two or more methods – 126 (63.0%), while 33 (16.5%) only did not take any first aid/treatment at all before getting to the treatment centre.