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Lopes MJ, da Silva ET, Ca J, Gonçalves A, Rodrigues A, Mandjuba C, Nakutum J, D'Alessandro U, Achan J, Logan J, Bailey R, Last A, Walker S, Marks M. Perceptions, attitudes and practices towards scabies in communities on the Bijagós Islands, Guinea-Bissau. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2020; 114:49-56. [PMID: 31722016 PMCID: PMC6974396 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/trz102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Revised: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Scabies is highly endemic among impoverished populations and has been recently included in the WHO's list of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Community support and behavioural changes are essential for the success of control interventions. This study aimed to explore beliefs, prevention attitudes and healthcare-seeking behaviours towards scabies in the Bijagós Archipelago of Guinea-Bissau. METHODS Data were collected through two methods. Community key informants (community members, community health workers, healthcare workers and traditional healers) were interviewed using snowball sampling. A questionnaire covering perceptions, attitudes and practices was administered to community members using random cluster sampling. Thematic analysis of qualitative data was applied to identify themes. Descriptive statistics were used for quantitative data analysis. RESULTS There was a satisfactory awareness about scabies, but perceptions about disease causation and transmission were imprecise. Misconceptions about personal hygiene as the primary measure for scabies prevention were recurrent. Some participants recognised the importance of early treatment to interrupt transmission. Treatment of close contacts was not considered important. Costs were the main determining factor for treatment choice between traditional healer and the local health centre. Late presentation and delayed treatment were common and associated with poverty and stigmatisation. Scabies impaired quality of life by affecting social interactions, health, fitness to work and school attendance. CONCLUSIONS There is a need to improve education, recognition, management and affordable access to treatment. Community education, healthcare workers' training and skin NTD integrated control programmes should address the challenges highlighted in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria João Lopes
- Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
- Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital Prof. Doutor Fernando Fonseca, IC 19, 2720-276 Amadora, Portugal
| | | | - Janete Ca
- Region Sanitaria Bolama-Bijagós, Bubaque, Guinea-Bissau
| | - Adriana Gonçalves
- Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | | | - Cristóvão Mandjuba
- Ministry of Public Health, Avenida Unidade Africana, 26, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
| | - Jose Nakutum
- Region Sanitaria Bolama-Bijagós, Bubaque, Guinea-Bissau
| | - Umberto D'Alessandro
- MRC Unit The Gambia at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Atlantic Boulevard, Fajara P.O. Box 273, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Jane Achan
- MRC Unit The Gambia at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Atlantic Boulevard, Fajara P.O. Box 273, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - James Logan
- Disease Control Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, UK
| | - Robin Bailey
- Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
- Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Anna Last
- Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
- Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Steve Walker
- Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
- Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Michael Marks
- Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
- Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UK
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Marks M, Sammut T, Cabral MG, Teixeira da Silva E, Goncalves A, Rodrigues A, Manjuba C, Nakutum J, Ca J, D’Alessandro U, Achan J, Logan J, Bailey R, Mabey D, Last A, Walker SL. The prevalence of scabies, pyoderma and other communicable dermatoses in the Bijagos Archipelago, Guinea-Bissau. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007820. [PMID: 31738757 PMCID: PMC6886863 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Revised: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Skin diseases represent a significant public health problem in most low and middle income settings. Nevertheless, there is a relative paucity of high-quality epidemiological data on the prevalence of these conditions. MATERIALS/METHODS We conducted two cross-sectional population-based skin-surveys of children (6 months to 9 years old) in the Bijagós Archipelago of Guinea-Bissau during the dry season (February-March 2018) and the wet season (June-July 2018). Following a period of training, a nurse performed a standardised examination for communicable dermatoses for each participant. We calculated the prevalence of each skin condition and investigated demographic associations. RESULTS 1062 children were enrolled in the dry season survey of whom 318 (29.9%) had at least one skin diseases. The most common diagnosis was tinea capitis (154/1062, 14.5% - 95% CI 12.5-16.8%) followed by tinea corporis (84/1062, 7.9% - 95% CI 6.4-9.7%), pyoderma (82/1062, 7.7% - 95% CI 6.2-9.5%) and scabies (56/1062. 5.2% - 95%CI 4.0-6.8%). 320 children were enrolled in the wet season survey of whom 121 (37.8%) had at least one skin problem. Tinea capitis remained the most common diagnosis (79/320, 24.7% - 95% CI 20.1-29.9%), followed by pyoderma (38/320, 11.9% - 95% CI 8.6-16.1%), tinea corporis (23/320, 7.2% - 95% 4.7-10.7%) and scabies (6/320, 1.9% - 95% CI 0.8-4.2%). CONCLUSIONS Our study, which utilised robust population-based cluster random sampling methodology, demonstrates the substantial disease burden caused by common communicable dermatoses in this setting. Given these findings, there is a need to consider common dermatoses as part of Universal Health Coverage to deliver 'skin-health for all'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Marks
- Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Thomas Sammut
- Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Adriana Goncalves
- Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Jose Nakutum
- Region Sanitaria Bolama-Bijagós, Bubaque, Guinea Bissau
| | - Janete Ca
- Region Sanitaria Bolama-Bijagós, Bubaque, Guinea Bissau
| | - Umberto D’Alessandro
- MRC The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Fajara, Gambia
| | - Jane Achan
- MRC The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Fajara, Gambia
| | - James Logan
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robin Bailey
- Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - David Mabey
- Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Last
- Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen L. Walker
- Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Dermatology, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
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