@article{31430,
  keywords = {Africa, First Aid, Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), Nigeria, snakebite, Venomous snakes},
  author = {Michael G and Grema B and Aliyu I and Alhaji M and Lawal TO and Ibrahim H and Fikin AG and Gyaran F and Kane K and Thacher TD and Badamasi AK and Ogwuche E},
  title = {Knowledge of venomous snakes, snakebite first aid, treatment, and prevention among clinicians in northern Nigeria: a cross-sectional multicentre study.},
  abstract = {<div><strong>Background</strong><br />
Snakebite envenoming causes considerable morbidity and mortality in northern Nigeria. The clinician{\textquoteright}s knowledge of snakebite impacts outcome. We assessed clinicians{\textquoteright} knowledge of snakebite envenoming to highlight knowledge and practice gaps for possible intervention to improve snakebite outcomes.<br />
<strong>Methods</strong><br />
This was a cross-sectional multicentre study of 374 doctors selected from the accident and emergency, internal medicine, family medicine/general outpatient, paediatrics and surgery departments of nine tertiary hospitals in northern Nigeria using a multistage sampling technique. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess their sociodemographics, knowledge of common venomous snakes, snakebite first aid, snake antivenom treatment and prevention.</div>

<div><strong>Results</strong><br />
The respondents{\textquoteright} mean age was 35.6{\textpm}5.8 y. They were predominantly males (70.6\%) from urban hospitals (71.9\%), from the northwest region (35.3\%), in family medicine/general outpatient departments (33.4\%), of \&lt;10 years working experience (66.3\%) and had previous experience in snakebite management (78.3\%). Although their mean overall knowledge score was 70.2{\textpm}12.6\%, only 52.9\% had an adequate overall knowledge score. Most had adequate knowledge of snakebite clinical features (62.3\%), first aid (75.7\%) and preventive measures (97.1\%), but only 50.8\% and 25.1\% had adequate knowledge of snake species that caused most injuries/deaths and anti{\textendash}snake venom treatment, respectively. Overall knowledge predictors were >=10 y working experience (odd ratio [OR] 1.72 [95\% confidence interval {CI} 1.07 to 2.76]), urban hospital setting (OR 0.58 [95\% CI 0.35 to 0.96]), surgery department (OR 0.44 [95\% CI 0.24 to 0.81]), northwest/north-central region (OR 2.36 [95\% CI 1.46 to 3.82]) and previous experience in snakebite management (OR 2.55 [95\% CI 1.49 to 4.36]).</div>

<div><strong>Conclusions</strong><br />
Overall knowledge was low. Improvements in overall knowledge may require clinicians{\textquoteright} exposure to snakebite management and training of accident and emergency clinicians in the region.</div>
},
  year = {2018},
  journal = {Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene},
  issn = {0035-9203},
  doi = {10.1093/trstmh/try028},
  language = {eng},
}