Snakebite Envenomation, Attitudes, and Behavior toward Snakes in Banten, Indonesia
Snakes are commonly associated with feelings of anxiety or disgust, and snake conservation is often hindered by negative attitudes and perceptions. Although global snake populations are generally in decline, snakebite envenomation (SBE) continues to be recognized as a serious public health issue, particularly in rural areas of tropical and subtropical countries. Data on SBE, a neglected tropical disease, are lacking, and Indonesia, a hotspot of venomous snake diversity, has no snake bite reporting system.
We conducted a survey in the village area of Muara Binuangeun in Banten, Indonesia, with the aim of exploring relationships between respondents’ experiences, attitudes towards snakes, and behaviors towards snake populations. Our study utilized a two-stage approach; in the first phase, focus group and individual interviews were conducted, with the aim of identifying key concepts relating to human perceptions, attitudes, and experiences in regard to local herpetofauna. Interview questions remained open-ended, with the aim of developing a grounded understanding of the themes most relevant to the participants themselves. As snake attitudes and encounters with snakes were mentioned by Muara Binuangeun village residents in the first stage of our research, we returned to administer a questionnaire containing questions designed to further investigate these themes.
We analyzed 127 survey results in with the aim of documenting SBE and exploring the relationships between respondents’ experiences, attitudes, and behaviors toward snakes. Our results indicate that snakebite envenomation presents a real threat in our study area, and that venomous snakes are regarded as highly dangerous by village residents. Nine percent of respondents had experienced SBE, and knowledge of SBE incidents was associated with negative attitudes toward snake populations, with negative attitudes toward snakes associated with a higher likelihood of anti-conservation behavior. Women were more fearful than men, and women and those with lower education levels expressed more negative attitudes toward pythons (Malayopython reticulatus), suggesting that increased knowledge may aid in snake conservation efforts. Universally negative risk beliefs and attitudes toward venomous snakes indicate a real need to reduce the threat of SBE in our study area. We hope that in conducting this research we have contributed towards increased knowledge of snake attitudes and SBE experiences, helping to accomplish both snake conservation and improved public safety through prevention of snakebite envenomation.
We conducted a survey in the village area of Muara Binuangeun in Banten, Indonesia, with the aim of exploring relationships between respondents’ experiences, attitudes towards snakes, and behaviors towards snake populations. Our study utilized a two-stage approach; in the first phase, focus group and individual interviews were conducted, with the aim of identifying key concepts relating to human perceptions, attitudes, and experiences in regard to local herpetofauna. Interview questions remained open-ended, with the aim of developing a grounded understanding of the themes most relevant to the participants themselves. As snake attitudes and encounters with snakes were mentioned by Muara Binuangeun village residents in the first stage of our research, we returned to administer a questionnaire containing questions designed to further investigate these themes.
We analyzed 127 survey results in with the aim of documenting SBE and exploring the relationships between respondents’ experiences, attitudes, and behaviors toward snakes. Our results indicate that snakebite envenomation presents a real threat in our study area, and that venomous snakes are regarded as highly dangerous by village residents. Nine percent of respondents had experienced SBE, and knowledge of SBE incidents was associated with negative attitudes toward snake populations, with negative attitudes toward snakes associated with a higher likelihood of anti-conservation behavior. Women were more fearful than men, and women and those with lower education levels expressed more negative attitudes toward pythons (Malayopython reticulatus), suggesting that increased knowledge may aid in snake conservation efforts. Universally negative risk beliefs and attitudes toward venomous snakes indicate a real need to reduce the threat of SBE in our study area. We hope that in conducting this research we have contributed towards increased knowledge of snake attitudes and SBE experiences, helping to accomplish both snake conservation and improved public safety through prevention of snakebite envenomation.