Background: Snakebite (SB) is an injury caused by the bite of a snake which often results in two puncture wounds from the animal fangs. The burden of snakebites in the human race has been underestimated, ignored and neglected for long. Globally, 5.5 million people are bitten by snakes each year, resulting in around 400,000 amputations and between 20,000-125,000 deaths. In the Nkwanta North District (NND) of the Volta region of Ghana, cases of snakebites increased from year to year and yet no analysis have been done to establish the actual sub districts, sex and age groups mostly affected in the district. We reviewed snakebites data to assess its magnitude in NND.

Method: We conducted a review of 2010-2014 secondary data generated by the district. Data on SB was extracted from the District Health Information System database (DHIMS). Data was managed and analyzed using MS Excel and descriptive statistics such as means, median or standard deviation was also generated for better understanding of the data. Tables and graphs were drawn for SB cases.

Results:Total number of SB cases recorded in the district for the period review was 488 (1.05% of the all the OPD cases recorded for the period in the district). SB decreased from 2010 to 2013 with a sharp increase in 2014. Damanko sub district recorded the highest annual incidence of snake bite cases (75.8%) and cases were most frequent among young adult within the age range of 18-34 years. The highest cases of SB were recorded in the months of July and November. SB cases were fairly distributed among both males and females.

Conclusion: Snakebites are common in Nkwanta North district, especially in the Damanko sub district. Most affected population is the young productive young men and women in the district.

Keywords: Snake bite, envenomation, Nkwanta North District, Volta Region, Ghana.