News Media Coverage of Snakebite Incidence in Nepal during 2010–2022

Abstract

Background: Despite snakebite being a medical emergency, it is still a neglected health issue in Nepal. Further, there exists gap of knowledge on snakebite epidemiology. Therefore, an analysis of incidence of snakebites reported in news is essential to understand snakebite epidemiology in Nepal and fill up existing knowledge gap in some extent. Objectives: We aimed analysing incidence of snakebites reported in the news media to know whether news-based incidence of snakebite is comparable to the similar incidence reported most comprehensively by Nepal Government, know the snakebite distribution patterns across its geo-climatic regions, provinces, and districts, understand supra-annual variations of snakebite incidence, and measure association between incidences of snakebites with the respective districts’ human population density. Methods: We retrospectively searched and analyzed incidence of snakebites reported in news articles published between 2010 and 2022. Using line graphs and plotted maps, we compared the annual patterns of snakebites with the national data of snakebites reported by Department of Health Services of Nepal Government. Further, we used non-parametric inferential statistics to know representativeness of our dataset and association of snakebite incidence with population density of snakebite prone districts. Results: Snakebites were reported from 53 out of 77 districts of Nepal. People inhabiting 50 out of 53 districts were affected by snakebite envenoming (with 11% of collective envenoming rate) that resulted in deaths of people inhabiting 43 districts (with 15% of collective case fatality rate). The most of envenomings and deaths occurred in the lowlands of Nepal along the northern border of India. We deemed at least 10,339 snakebites, 2,113 envenomings, and 101 deaths annually in Nepal. Conclusions: The incidences of snakebites were high in flood affected areas, terai regions as well as some districts in the hills and mountains. Therefore, improvement of the snakebite risk map released by Nepal Government is essential to ensure prevention and control of snakebite envenoming in these high affected areas. Inclusion of urban areas in terai regions of this country is essential while designing the next more representative community-based study