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Digital Health Intervention in Snakebite Management: Scoping Review
Anwesha Dash1, Sushmita Kerketta1, Geetanjali Mallick1
1Department of Public Health, ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, NALCO Nagar, Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar, 751023, India, 91 8307932643.
Journal of Medical Internet Research
|September 17, 2025
Summary
Digital health apps show promise in reducing snakebite deaths by providing guidance and support. However, to improve global reach, apps need offline capabilities, regional customization, and policy support for wider accessibility.
Area of Science:
- Digital Health
- Tropical Medicine
- Mobile Health Interventions
Background:
- Snakebite envenoming is a neglected tropical disease causing significant global mortality, disproportionately affecting rural, low-resource areas.
- Digital health interventions, specifically mobile health apps, offer innovative solutions for managing snakebite envenoming through real-time guidance and resource tracking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically map existing digital mobile-based health interventions for snakebite management.
- To evaluate the functionalities, accessibility, and geographical distribution of these snakebite management apps.
Main Methods:
- A systematic search was conducted in January 2024 across multiple databases and app stores.
- Inclusion criteria focused on English-language mobile apps providing structured snakebite management guidance; exclusion criteria included non-clinical apps and non-English studies.
- Data extraction covered app features, accessibility, multilingual support, user feedback, and regional availability, with narrative synthesis and PRISMA guidelines used for analysis.
Main Results:
- Out of 237 records, 16 mobile health apps were included, all offering first aid protocols, with most featuring snake identification (88%) and antivenom stock mapping (56%).
- The majority of apps were free (94%) and Android-compatible (62%), with significant geographical disparity in availability, predominantly in India (69%).
- While urban users appreciated real-time guidance, rural usability was limited by internet dependency (40%) and language barriers (65% misinterpretation).
Conclusions:
- Digital health apps can decrease snakebite mortality through enhanced education and emergency support.
- Scalability requires infrastructural adaptations (offline functionality, low-data interfaces), equity-driven designs (regional customization, multilingual support), and supportive policy actions.
- Implementing these strategies is crucial for achieving global targets and equitable impact in snakebite management by 2030.
