ArticlePLoS neglected tropical diseases2021
How beliefs in traditional healers impact on the use of allopathic medicine: In the case of indigenous snakebite in Eswatini.
Article in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06808789 (Mapping Snakebite Risk in Ghana and Rwanda), which is not on this map. Cited by 17 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Mapping Snakebite Risk in Ghana and Rwanda: Using Primary Data Collection and Geostatistical Techniques to Develop an Approach to Risk Estimation for Snakebite
Who cites it
17 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- The use of traditional medicine practitioner services for childhood illnesses among childbearing women: a multilevel analysis of demographic and health surveys in 32 sub-Saharan African countries.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2023Pooled it
- Assessing knowledge and awareness regarding snakebite and management of snakebite envenoming in healthcare workers and the general population: A systematic review and meta-analysis.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2023Pooled it
- Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practice of healthcare providers regarding snakebite envenomation: a cross-sectional study among Sub-saharan african countries.Annals of medicine · 2026Article
- Article
- Community beliefs, risk factors, and preventive practices of snakebite: a local study with global perspectives.BMC research notes · 2025Observational
- Nationwide variation of snakebite incidence in Kenya: Community surveys as an integrated NTD approach.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2025Article
- Preventive practices and parental attitudes towards snakebites in children in snakebite hotspots of rural Sri Lanka.BMJ paediatrics open · 2025Article
- Symptoms and Management of Painful Progressive Swelling in Eswatini Snakebite Patients: A Prospective Observational Study.The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene · 2025Observational
- Factors Associated with Complications of Snakebite Envenomation in Health Facilities in the Cascades Region of Burkina Faso from 2016 to 2021.Tropical medicine and infectious disease · 2024Article
- Therapeutic itineraries of snakebite victims and antivenom access in southern Mexico.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2024Article
- Snakebite epidemiology, outcomes and multi-cluster risk modelling in Eswatini.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2023Article
- Traditional health practitioners' training needs on biomedical knowledge and skills in a South African township.African journal of primary health care & family medicine · 2023Article
- Reasons for using traditional and complementary care by people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy and association with interrupted care: a mixed methods study in Eswatini.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2023Article
- Experiences and practices of traditional healers on snakebite treatment and prevention in rural Malawi.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2023Article
- Antivenom availability, delays and use in Australia.Toxicon: X · 2023Article
- Building an explanatory model for snakebite envenoming care in the Brazilian Amazon from the indigenous caregivers' perspective.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2023Article
- Multifaceted community health education programs as powerful tools to mitigate snakebite-induced deaths, disabilities, and socioeconomic burden.Toxicon: X · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
1 author.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Snakebite is a major public health problem in Eswatini and serious envenomations can be responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality if not treated correctly. Antivenom should be administered in hospital in case of adverse reactions and any delays due to distance, transport, costs, antivenom availability and cultural beliefs can be critical. Myths and superstition surround snakes, with illness from snakebite considered a supernatural phenomenon best treated by traditional medicine since healers can explore causes through communication with the ancestors. Traditional consultations can cause significant delays and the remedies may cause further complications. Four rural focus group discussions were held in varying geographical regions to establish why people may choose traditional medicine following snakebite. The study revealed four themes, with no apparent gender bias. These were 'beliefs and traditions', 'logistical issues', 'lack of knowledge' and 'parallel systems'. All snakes are feared, regardless of geographical variations in species distribution. Deep-seated cultural beliefs were the most important reason for choosing traditional medicine, the success of which is largely attributed to the 'placebo effect' and positive expectations. Collaboration and integration of the allopathic and traditional systems assisted by the regulation of healers and their methods could improve future treatment success. The plight of victims could be further improved with more education, lower costs and improved allopathic facilities.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.