ArticleBMC pediatrics2025
First-aid practices and pre-hospital care in paediatric snakebites.
Article in BMC pediatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- First-aid, pre-hospital care, and harmful indigenous practices in pediatric snakebite envenomation: A systematic review of global evidence from 1973 to 2025.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2026Pooled 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
- Evaluating the content quality and trustworthiness of snakebite envenomation videos on social media platforms: insights from TikTok and Bilibili.Tropical medicine and health · 2026Article
- Predictive Modeling of Localized Mobile App to Improve Snakebite Management in Ghana.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2026Article
- A country-wide survey of knowledge and practice regarding prevention, snake identification and pre-hospital management of children with snakebites amongst Public Health Midwives in Sri Lanka.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2026Article
- Analyzing first aid in textbooks used by non-medical and paramedical students in Nepal: A need of further attention for snakebite management!PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2025Article
- Therapeutic itineraries of children after snakebites in the Brazilian Amazon: A thematic drawing-and-story study.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSnakebites pose a serious health risk to children in Sri Lanka, particularly in rural areas. Inappropriate first-aid measures and delayed hospital access contribute to adverse outcomes. This study examined caregiver first-aid practices and factors linked to harmful responses.
methodsA descriptive cross-sectional mixed-methods study was conducted across four tertiary hospitals in Sri Lanka. Quantitative data were collected from 364 pediatric snakebite cases through structured caregiver interviews. First-aid practices were categorized as safe or potentially harmful. Logistic regression identified predictors of harmful practices. Additionally, 54 qualitative interviews explored caregiver beliefs and behaviours.
resultsWhile 264 (73.4%) caregivers washed the wound with soap and water and 222 (61.1%) reassured the child. Harmful practices were frequently observed: 97 (26.7%) applied tourniquets, 27 (7.4%) used herbal or home remedies such as lime or mashed onions, 9 (2.5%) attempted to suck out venom, 5 (1.5%) performed religious rituals before hospital care, 2 (0.5%) made incisions to drain blood, and 1 (0.2%) applied Condy's crystals. Harmful practices were significantly associated with low maternal education (AOR 1.94; p < 0.001), low paternal education (AOR 2.26; p < 0.001), low socioeconomic status (AOR 3.67; p < 0.001), and cultural beliefs regarding traditional cures (AOR 2.64; p < 0.001). Remote healthcare access was a borderline significant factor (AOR 1.28; p = 0.05). Prior training in snakebite first aid was protective (AOR 0.21; p < 0.001). Qualitative findings revealed coexistence of traditional and biomedical practices and frequent transport-related delays.
conclusionDespite moderate awareness of recommended first aid, harmful practices persist in paediatric snakebite care in Sri Lanka. Targeted, culturally sensitive education and improved rural emergency transport services are essential to reduce delays and prevent complications.
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