Abstract:
Background: Scabies is a highly contagious skin disease common in low and middle income countries
and resource limited settings. The disease has a debilitating effect in children affecting their health,
productivity and growth. Even though there are effective treatments for the disease, it has been persistent
in developing countries. The studies conducted in our country focus on outbreak situations. The endemic
scabies cases among the population are not studied well. Also, there have been no studies conducted on
the determinants of the disease among school age children in the area.
Objective: To assess the determinants of scabies infection among school age children in Siraro District,
West Arsi Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia, 2021.
Method: Community based unmatched case control study was conducted among children of age 5-14
years from May 12 to June 22, 2021. A total of 340 participants (170 cases and 170) controls were
planned for the study. Ten kebeles were selected and cases and controls were selected using multistage
sampling method from the selected clusters. Data was collected by interviewer administered structured
questionnaire. Data was entered by using Epidata and exported into SPSS software version 23 for further
analyses .Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was employed and AOR with 95% confidence
interval and p<0.05 was used to determine association. The results are presented using tables and graphs.
Results:The response rate was94.1%.A total of 320 participants, 170 cases and 150 controls participated
in the study. Mean age of the cases and controls was 9.57 with SD of ±2.760and 9.55with SD of ±2.780
years respectively. Majority of both the cases and controls lived in the rural area. Family size greater than
5 (AOR=2.04, 95%CI =1.1-3.6) and bathing frequency of more than one week (AOR=2.68, 95%CI=
1.56-4.59) were significant factors of scabies infection. Not sharing bed with a person with itching and
pruritus (AOR=0.04, 95%CI=.29-.84), not sharing clothes with their siblings (AOR=.31 95%CI=.186-
.532) and not having previous history of scabies infection (AOR=.58 95% CI=.34-.99) were protective
fa
ctors against scabies infection.
Conclusion: Scabies infection isan important health problem in Siraro district among school age
children.Crowded living, lack of personal hygiene and lacks of access to water were associated to high
scabies infection among school age children in Siraro district.
