preprint · medRxiv
A retrospective study of 128 snakebite patients across five health facilities in Zambia examined patterns governing antivenom administration. Only 12.5 percent of patients received antivenom overall. Treatment rates varied significantly depending on the facility, ranging from complete provision at Kabwe General Hospital to partial administration at Commando Urban Health Centre and Chipata Central Hospital. Conversely, Mpongwe Mission Hospital and St. Dominic's Mission Hospital administered antivenom to no patients because the therapy was entirely unavailable at those sites. Patient demographic factors such as age group and gender, alongside admission year, had no statistically significant association with whether antivenom was administered. The findings indicate that access to treatment is dictated primarily by facility-level drug availability rather than patient characteristics. Overcoming these treatment gaps will require strengthened procurement, more equitable distribution systems, and improved patient referral networks.
Snakebite envenoming is a neglected condition that leads to preventable illness and death when therapeutic interventions are absent. This study reveals severe disparities in antivenom access between health centres in Zambia. Knowing that treatment is governed by institutional stock rather than clinical factors provides essential evidence for health authorities to target supply chains, improve procurement, and ensure life-saving therapies reach rural and underserved populations.
The abstract outlines observational health systems research rather than a direct commercial product. The findings provide operational evidence that could be used by pharmaceutical suppliers, medical logistics firms, and public health agencies to develop targeted inventory tracking, distribution, and referral tools. These practical insights are at an applied health-systems stage and could inform commercial distribution partnerships aimed at addressing rural supply chain failures.
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Abstract Background Snakebite envenoming remains a major but neglected public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa, where access to antivenom is often limited and unevenly distributed. In Zambia, evidence on facility-level determinants of antivenom use is scarce. This study examined factors associated with antivenom administration among snakebite patients in selected health facilities. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among 128 snakebite patients presenting to five health facilities in Zambia. Associations between antivenom administration and health facility, admission year, age group, and gender were assessed using Fisher’s exact test, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results Overall, 16/128 patients (12.5%) received antivenom. Antivenom administration varied significantly by health facility (p < 0.0001). All patients at Kabwe General Hospital received antivenom (9/9, 100%), compared to 50% (2/4) at Commando Urban Health Centre and 22.7% (5/22) at Chipata Central Hospital. No patients received antivenom at Mpongwe Mission Hospital (0/70) or St. Dominic’s Mission Hospital (0/23), where antivenom was not available. Admission year (2023 vs 2024; p = 0.78), age group (p = 0.53), and gender (p = 0.80) were not significantly associated with antivenom use. Conclusion Antivenom administration in this setting is determined primarily by health facility-level availability rather than patient demographic or temporal factors. The very low overall treatment rate highlights critical inequities in access to life-saving therapy. Strengthening antivenom procurement, equitable distribution, and referral systems is urgently needed to reduce preventable morbidity and mortality from snakebite envenoming.
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DOI: 10.64898/2026.08.07.26358265
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