Document Type : Research articles

Authors

• Masood Maleki Birjandi ¹
• Mahbobeh Oroei ²
• Seyed Naser Emadi ³
• Ali Asghar Peyvandi ⁴
• Abraham Kwabena Anang ⁵

¹ Iran Clinic, Iranian Red Crescent Society, Accra, Ghana

² Hearing Disorders Research Center, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

³ Skin Research Center, Razi Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

⁴ Hearing Disorders Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

⁵ Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana

Abstract

Background: Scabies is one of the most common itchy dermatoses in school students. The scabies incidence is dependent on per- sonal hygiene and social factors.
Objectives: This study aimed to determine the scabies prevalence and health literacy among high school students.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in 22 high schools of Accra, Ghana, from March to July 2018. School students voluntarily participated in the study. After obtaining the agreement of the relevant authorities, we gathered information regarding demographic characteristics and knowledge, attitude, and hygiene habits of 2,766 students.
Results: Overall, 2,766 students consisting of 1,171 from urban areas and 1,595 from suburban areas of Accra were enrolled in this study. The scabies prevalence was 10.3% in the high school students, ranging from 3.7% in suburban students to 19.4% in urban students. The risk of scabies was higher in females than in males (OR = 1.57; 95%CI = 1.18 - 2.07; P = 0.002) and in urban students than in suburban students (OR = 6.90; 95%CI = 5.05 - 9.43; P < 0.001). The knowledge level was good in 53.4% of the students and moderate in 44.1%. Almost 91.3% of the students had a positive attitude toward scabies prevention. There were significantly higher knowledge and attitude scores in urban areas than in suburban areas (all P < 0.001).
Conclusions: According to the high prevalence of scabies in urban students in, it is necessary to perform more educational efforts and governmental/ non-governmental supports to limit the cases. It seems that high social class and urban residence do not guar- antee the occurrence of scabies; thus, comprehensive prevention programs are required for all social classes.

Keywords

• Attitude
• Scabies
• Ghana
• Habit
• Health
• Hygiene
• Knowledge
• Literacy
• Schools
• Social Class
• Students
• Pruritus