ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Public Health
Sec. Injury Prevention and Control
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1585250
Challenges and Management of Venomous Bites and Scorpion Stings in Lebanon: A Qualitative Study
Provisionally accepted
Kamil Kadi1
Tharwat El Zahran2*
Mario Badr1
Mohamad Mdaihly1Nesrine Ahmad3
Atika Berry4Michelle E E Bauer5
Samar Al-Hajj6*- 1Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- 2Department of Emergency Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
- 3MENA Program for Advanced Injury Research, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- 4Ministry of Public Health (Lebanon), Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- 5British Columbia Injury Research and Prevention Unit, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- 6Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
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Background: Snakebites and scorpion stings are significant public health issues globally, particularly in the Middle East. This qualitative study investigates the management of these incidents in Lebanon by exploring the perceptions of healthcare providers and public health experts.Methods: Thematic analysis, guided by sociocultural theory, examined qualitative data from 17 interviews with healthcare providers, including emergency physicians, paramedics, pharmaceutical providers, and ministry workers. Transcripts were coded to identify recurring themes related to the management of snakebites and scorpion stings, focusing on availability, accessibility, inequity, healthcare access disparities, and cultural influences on treatment-seeking behavior.The analysis revealed significant disparities in antivenom availability and accessibility, particularly in rural areas and among low socioeconomic groups. Healthcare providers often resorted to illicit channels to secure antivenom due to stock shortages, while victims sometimes relied on traditional treatment methods. The lack of standardized treatment protocols and inadequate clinician training resulted in inconsistent antivenom usage and unsafe practices. The study also highlighted insufficient documentation and reporting mechanisms and inadequate networking among stakeholders, alongside a notable knowledge gap among victims.This study emphasizes the urgent need for targeted interventions to address systemic challenges in managing snakebites and scorpion stings in Lebanon. Collaborative efforts are essential to enhance awareness, improve antivenom access, standardize treatment protocols, and promote effective management practices.
Keywords: Venomous Bites, Lebanon, Health inequity, Health management, sociocultural theory
Received: 28 Feb 2025; Accepted: 14 May 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Kadi, El Zahran, Badr, Mdaihly, Ahmad, Berry, Bauer and Al-Hajj. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Tharwat El Zahran, Department of Emergency Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon
Samar Al-Hajj, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.