Mapping Snakebite Risk in Ghana and Rwanda (NCT06808789) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
Mapping Snakebite Risk in Ghana and Rwanda
32,000 participantsStarted 2025-11
Plain-language summary
Snakebite causes approximately 138,000 deaths each year and non-fatal bites lead to considerable health burden, particularly in low-income tropical countries. Data on snakebite burden are lacking. Official data from health facilities are often either unavailable or underestimate cases, by excluding the many victims who do not attend formal health facilities; community surveys are useful for assessing burden, but they require significant resources to conduct. This study aims to understand both whether spatial analysis methods can help in assessing and predicting snakebite risk in different environments, and the value of current data collection methods for their contribution to this analysis approach. First, snakebite data already recorded in health facilities in Ghana and Rwanda will be extracted and analysed. Community surveys will be conducted in environmentally diverse areas of Ghana and Rwanda to collect information directly from randomly selected households about their experiences with snakebites. Using GPS to map household locations, geostatistical methods will be applied to the data to see if it can accurately predict areas at high risk of snakebite; the predictions will be used to generate risk maps. The study findings will build knowledge on geographical variation in snakebite risk and help develop an approach to mapping snakebite risk in sub-Saharan Africa.
The risk maps generated will be compared with data on the distribution of antivenoms in each country. This will show if antivenoms are available in the places that need them most and help ensure antivenom supplies are better allocated in the future. It will also help identify high-risk areas so health officials can advocate for resources and develop treatment and prevention programmes.
Who can participate
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Household Screening Questionnaire:
o Heads of household from all selected households will be invited to participate, regardless of age or sex. If the head of household is absent, another adult from the household who can report on behalf of all household members will be invited to be interviewed.
* Snakebite Details Questionnaire:
* All household members identified with a history of snakebite will be invited to complete this questionnaire, with the assistance/in the presence of a responsible adult if the participant is a minor. If the household member is deceased, a responsible adult from the household will be asked to complete the questionnaire as far as possible.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Household Screening Questionnaire
* Households where the household head/a responsible adult is not present at first visit or revisit.
* Households where the household head/responsible adult is unable or unwilling to give consent.
* Snakebite Details Questionnaire
* Where the snakebite victim is an adult and is present: the victim is unwilling to participate
* Where the snakebite victim is an adult and is not present: there is no responsible adult who is able to complete the questionnaire on the behalf of the victim
* Where the snakebite victim is a minor: there is no responsible adult who is able or willing to provide consent to be interviewed or support the child to complete the questionnaire.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Number of people who have ever had a snakebite
Timeframe: 1 year
2
Number of participants who have ever had a snakebite