Knowledge regarding snakes and snake bite among tribal population in Kiran Chandra Tea Estate in Naxalbari, Darjeeling

Introduction:Knowledge regarding snakes and snake bites is important to reduce the incidence and complications following snake bites which are fairly common in tea gardens areas of Darjeeling.Objectives: The present study attempts to determine if the residents of the Kiran Chandra Tea Estate could identify the common snakes in their area, identify differences between poisonous and non poisonous snakes from their bites and to find out the usual practices regarding snake bite management in the study population.Materials and methods: : This descriptive study with cross sectional design was conducted in a convenience sample of 53 participants during May 2018 among the tribal population in Kiran Chandra Tea Estate using a Researcher Administered Questionnaire. Collected data was entered in Microsoft Excel and analyzed using descriptive statistics.Results: Among the 53 participants, 21 (39.6%) were Illiterate and the majority 40 (75.5%), were garden workers. The maximum number of participants 28 (52.8%) belonged to the above 40 years age group. Regarding identification of snake bite, 37.7% could not identify the signs and symptoms of poisonous snake bites. Only 26.4% were able to differentiate a poisonous snake bite from a non poisonous one. Fifty (94%) people thought application of a tourniquet proximal to the bite was important as First Aid. All the participants preferred using the snake stone immediately after the bite. Almost 60% preferred native / ayurvedic treatment over government hospitals.Conclusion:There is a paucity of knowledge on snake bites and its first aid management. A large section of the tribal community in the Kiran Chandra Tea Estate still prefer traditional methods of snake bite management instead of government facilities.