The socio-economic burden of snakebite in Sri Lanka.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Snakebite is a major problem affecting the rural poor in many of the poorest countries in the tropics. However, the scale of the socio-economic burden has rarely been studied. We undertook a comprehensive assessment of the burden in Sri Lanka.

Methods

Data from a representative nation-wide community based household survey were used to estimate the number of bites and deaths nationally, and household and out of pocket costs were derived from household questionnaires. Health system costs were obtained from hospital cost accounting systems and estimates of antivenom usage. DALYs lost to snakebite were estimated using standard approaches using disability weights for poisoning.

Findings

79% of victims suffered economic loss following a snakebite with a median ou

SUBMITTER: Kasturiratne A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5500261 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature