02086nas a2200277   4500000000100000008004100001653003900042653001500081653001400096653001400110653001400124653001400138653001400152653002200166653001400188100001200202700001400214700002000228700001500248245014000263856008000403300000700483490000600490520129800496022001401794       2014                            d10aNeglected tropical diseases (NTDs)10aSnake bite10aSri Lanka10aAwareness10aTreatment10aFirst Aid10aAttitudes10aFarming community10aKnowledge1 aSilva A1 aMarikar F1 aMurugananthan A1 aAgampodi S00aAwareness and perceptions on prevention, first aid and treatment of snakebites among Sri Lankan farmers: a knowledge practice mismatch?  uhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4026859/pdf/1745-6673-9-20.pdf  a200 v93 a<p><strong>BACKGROUND: </strong>Snakebite is a global health problem associated with high morbidity and mortality. In Sri Lanka, snakebite is mainly an occupational health hazard associated with farming. Understanding awareness and perceptions in risk populations on the preventive measures, first aid and treatment for snakebite becomes pivotal in designing snakebite prevention and control programs. Using an investigator assisted self completed questionnaire, we assessed the awareness and perceptions of 176 part-time and full-time, Chena and paddy farmers from three dry zone districts of Sri Lanka where agriculture is the main economic activity.</p>

<p><strong>FINDINGS: </strong>High percentages of the participants were aware of practices that minimize snakebites in houses and outside, available treatments and most of the recommended first aid measures. Western medical treatment was preferred by the vast majority of the farmers over the traditional treatment.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSION: </strong>Some of the protective measures that the farmers were aware of are not practiced generally in Sri Lanka, suggesting a knowledge-practice mismatch. We suggest studies to understand the effects of socioeconomic and cultural determinants on snakebite prevention in Sri Lanka.</p>
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