Epidemiological Study of Snakebite Cases Admitted in Godey Hospital, Shebelle Zone, Eastern Ethiopia, June, 2016

Abstract Background : Every year, most snakebite envenomation occurs worldwide. The highest number of snakebites is recorded from Asia, Southeast Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Snake-bite included in the WHO’s (World Health Organization) list of neglected tropical diseases. The load of snakebite in Ethiopia is unknown, perhaps because of underreporting. No study done on existing data at Godey hospital. Therefore, the aim of current study was, to characterize the distribution of victims by time, place, and person, to know the extent of the problem and coming with recommendation. Methods : We conducted a retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study at Godey hospital from May 15-22/2016. We collected data, which describe the characteristics of snakebite according to the age, sex, kebeles from which cases came, woredas, and final patient’s outcome. We included all cases visited emergency wards from September 2014 to May 2016. We entered, cleaned, and analyzed collected data by using Microsoft Excel 2007. Furthermore, we secured permission for data collection from hospitals officials. Result : Starting from September 2014 to May 2016, 45 snakebite victims were reported. The death was 2 making a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 4.4%. The age ranges from 1 year to 60 years, with a mean age of 20.1 years. Majority 26(57.8%) of were those age group ranging from 1 to 15, while least (6.7%) age group was those from 31 to 45. About 75.6% of cases were those under 30 years. Majority 30(66.7%) of cases were male. About 91.1% of cases were reported from rural kebeles of Godey woreda. The bites were reported in all months of the years except January, and a peak report was in May. Low extremity accounts to majority (65%) of site of bites. Under registration of patients, morbidity, mortality, and not registering important variable were among problem remarked. Conclusion : This was snakebite among patients seen at Godey hospital in which males affected more than females, and maximum snakebite incidence viewed in rural concerns. Registration of patients’ improvement, further region wide study to document the most common venomous snakes’ species, incidence, morbidity, and mortality of snakebites in Ethiopian Somali Region, are among recommendation.