Electronic Journal of Biology

Scabies Outbreak Investigation among “Yekolo Temaris” in Gondar Town, North Western Ethiopia, November 2015

Introduction: Scabies is an ecto-parasitic, highly contagious skin disease caused by infestation of the skin by the human itch mite, Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis. Dermatologists estimate that more than 300 million cases of scabies occur worldwide every year. In Ethiopia, according to national survey conducted in 2008, there are 6.2% of schoolchildren and 5.6% of orphan school children affected with scabies. On November 10, 2015 scabies outbreak were reported to Gondar town health office from St. Lideta Lemaryam church. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate scabies outbreak, identify factors associated with scabies transmission and to take public health action among affected group of people. Materials and method: Unmatched case control study with case control ratio of 1:2 was conducted from November 13 to 20, 2015 in St. Lideta church in Gondar town. Data was collected by face to face interview of cases and controls through structured questionnaires. Data analysis was done using Epi- Info and SPSS 20. Odds ratio with its confidence interval was used as measure of association and to assure statistically significance. Results: 96 respondents were included; 32 cases and 64 controls. The analysis of the study shown that people who share close from ill person were 2.76 (95% CI=1.04-7.41) times more likely to develop scabies; and individuals who had close contact with ill person were 5.37 (95% CI=1.84-17.6) times more likely to develop disease scabies, also individuals who had travelling history to scabies epidemic area were 4.7 (95% CI=1.64-14) times more likely develop the disease. Besides, individuals who wash their body in more than a week interval were 3.22 (95% CI=1.22-8.5) times more likely develop scabies. Conclusion: In this study, scabies was a public health problem among “Yekolo Temari” in St. Lideta Lemaryam church of Gondar town. Sharing cloths, student to student contact, travelling history to scabies epidemic area and poor personal hygiene was risk factors identified during investigation of the outbreak.

Author(s):

Zeyneba Jemal Yassin, Abel Fekadu Dadi, Habtamu Yimer Nega, Behailu Tariku Derseh, Wondesen Asegidew

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