02030nas a2200241   4500000000100000008004100001260001200042653001700054653001700071653001500088653003000103653001500133653001400148100001100162700001500173700002000188245012500208856007000333300001100403490000700414520135300421022001401774       2021                            d  c09/202110aAnthropology10aEnvenomation10aHealthcare10aHuman-animal interactions10aPrevention10aSnakebite1 aDuda R1 aMonteiro W1 aGiles-Vernick T00aIntegrating lay knowledge and practice into snakebite prevention and care in central Africa, a hotspot for envenomation.  uhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8350493/pdf/main.pdf  a1000770 v113 a<p>The WHO has identified the goal of halving deaths and disability from snakebite envenomation (SBE) by 2030 through a four-pillar program that promotes accessible and affordable treatments, strengthens health systems, promotes community and multi-level engagement, and mobilizes partnerships, coordination and resources to advocate for global action. This initiative could accelerate multi-disciplinary research and action in central Africa, a "hotspot" for SBE, but it offers little specific guidance about anthropological research to be conducted. This commentary develops that research agenda. It surveys anthropological, ethnohistorical investigations in the central African forest to elaborate the socio-cultural and historical significance and practices around snakes and snakebites. It draws from south and southeast Asian and Latin American literatures to illustrate anthropological contributions to SBE research. It then outlines a Central African research agenda employing ethnobiological investigation of snake ecologies, participatory evaluations of humans-snake contacts, and interviews and participant-observation of local prevention and treatment practices and knowledge. This research will co-develop policies and practices with forest communities and leaders and regional and national authorities to reduce the burden of SBE.</p>  a2590-1710