Abstract:
Background: Human scabies is a parasitic infection caused by Sarcoptes scabiei var hominis. It affects all age groups; however, children are more vulnerable. Specially in primary schools, scabies affects children’s school regularity and performance. There is a gap of information on the determinantes of scabies among primary school children’s in Ethiopia. The aim the study was to
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identify factors that determine scabies among primary school children in Habru district, North Wollo Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Methods: Institution-based unmatched case-control study was conducted among primary school children in Habru district from March to May, 2019. Three hundred, 100 cases and 200 controls, study participants were enrolled. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to get representative cases and controls. Skin examination of scabies was done by trained health professionals to select cases and controls. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 20 statistical software. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the study participants in relation to relevant variables. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were used to identify factors that determine the dependent variable. Statistical significance was declared at P.value less than 0.05. Results: A total of 100 cases and 200 controls were participated in the current study. Sex, age, family size, family history of scabies, sharing of cloths with infected person, previous history of scabies and number of sleeping rooms were found to be independent determinants of scabies. Male were more likely to have scabies (AOR= 7.5; 95% CI: 3.293, 24.462). Younger children were more prone to scabies. Children between 10-12 years of age (AOR= 8; 95%CI: 2.786, 24.244) were found to be the most affected age group followed by 13-15 years of age (AOR= 7.7; 95%CI: 2.612, 23.194). Other factors like family size ≥5 (AOR= 3.4; 95% CI: 1.536, 7.748), family history of scabies (AOR= 9.8; 95% CI: 3.913, 24.462), were also independent factors of having scabies. Conclusion: Determinants such as sex; age, family history of scabies, family size, number of rooms, previous history of scabies and sharing clothes with a person with scabies had significant role for the transmission of scabies and thus the district health and education offices, NGOs and the school community should work together to prevent scabies.
