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A Community Engagement Approach to Snakebite Prevention in Rural Uganda: Exploring Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices
,
Yowasi Byaruhanga,
Hazel Nichols ,
Cris M. Kaseke,
Francis Mwanguhya,
Jessica Mitchell
Toxins, Volume: 18, Issue: 2, Start page: 78
Swansea University Authors:
Kevin Arbuckle , Hazel Nichols
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© 2026 by the authors. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.
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DOI (Published version): 10.3390/toxins18020078
Abstract
Snakebite envenoming is classified as a Neglected Tropical Disease and causes mortality, morbidity, and economic impacts for hundreds of thousands of people per year, particularly in tropical, low- and middle-income countries. Most research on snakebite interventions focuses on improving clinical ma...
| Published in: | Toxins |
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| ISSN: | 2072-6651 |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2026
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| Online Access: |
Check full text
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71386 |
| Abstract: |
Snakebite envenoming is classified as a Neglected Tropical Disease and causes mortality, morbidity, and economic impacts for hundreds of thousands of people per year, particularly in tropical, low- and middle-income countries. Most research on snakebite interventions focuses on improving clinical management rather than bite prevention. However, prevention may provide a better mechanism to minimise snakebite impacts, particularly in rural areas where access to effective medical treatment is limited. This study reports on the preliminary testing phase of a participatory workshop intervention run in rural Uganda in 2022–23, which used a community engagement approach designed to reduce snakebites through discussing snake behaviour and biology. A mixed methods survey and semi-structured interviews were conducted, both with workshop attendees and non-attendees, after the delivery of the workshops. We found that a fearful attitude toward snakes often led to human–snake conflict, with snake killings occurring commonly, and some bites occurring during attempted killings. Workshops appeared to challenge negative attitudes, as understanding snake behaviour seemed to build compassion toward snakes and therefore has the potential to reduce human–snake conflict. Those who attended workshops were more likely to suggest ‘giving snakes space,’ rather than attempting to kill them, and were more likely to suggest hospital treatment if bitten. We also found that many effective methods for snakebite prevention are already known to the community, but those who attended the workshop were aware of a wider range of prevention methods and were more likely to implement less ecologically damaging and more effective strategies. This emphasises that appropriate knowledge resides within the community to prevent snakebites, and so community engagement approaches can improve prevention practices while recognising that the ownership and knowledge for such changes is generated by the local people themselves. |
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| Keywords: |
snakebite; prevention strategies; KAP; behavioural change; public health interventions; community engagement |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Funders: |
This research was funded by a series of small charitable and research grants awarded to J.M., K.A., and H.J.N. between 2021 and 2023. J.M.: University of Leeds Chancellors Essay prize, awarded 2021, and University of Edinburgh Chancellors Fellowship, awarded 2023. H.J.N.: The Greatest Need Fund, Swansea University, awarded March 2021. H.J.N. and K.A.: Research Wales Innovation Fund (RWIF) Collaboration Booster (R3-EEF27), funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, awarded October 2022. K.A.: Hamish Ogston Foundation and Global Snakebite Initiative Grant, awarded 2020. |
| Issue: |
2 |
| Start Page: |
78 |