Volume 25, Issue 114, August 2021

Acknowledging popular misconceptions about scabies in Aseer region, Saudi Arabia

Ahmad ALQarni¹, Emad Bahashwan², Albaraa Alwabel³, Ebtisam Almosawed⁴, Adel Alfaifi⁵, Saleh Ahmed Alshaikhi⁶

¹Acting Consultant and Head of Dermatology Department in Ahad Rufaidah Hospital Ahad Rufaidah, Saudi Arabia
²Assistance professor of dermatology, Medical College, Bisha University, Saudi Arabia
³Dermatology Department in Khamis Mushayt Maternity and Children Hospital, Khamis Mushayt, Saudi Arabia
⁴Acting consultant in Dermatology Department in King Khaled University Medical City, Abha, Saudi Arabia
⁵Chief Resident of Saudi Dermatology Program in Southern RegionAbha, Saudi Arabia
⁶Acting consultant in Family Medicine, MOH, ALQunfudah City, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

Background: Human Scabies is an intensely itchy dermatological disease caused by the mite Sarcoptesscabiei hominis. Scabies is a problem of all ages, races, and all socioeconomic groups are susceptible. It is influenced by many environmental factors. More than 300 million cases of scabies are reported worldwide every year. Accordingly, this study aims at measuring the knowledge and conception among society in Aseer region of Saudi Arabia. Method: A cross-sectional study. It targeted Saudi Adults in Asser region. A simple Arabic self-administered validated questionnaire was utilized for data collection in shopping centers and online using the online applications. The data was collected and then entered using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 20. The SPSS was also used to process and analyze the collected data. Results: The sample size was 670 individuals, of which 52% are males while 48% are females. Additionally, 642 (95.8%) reported they have heard about scabies, while only 14 (4.2%) reported the opposite. Moreover, the majority (36.1%) have known about scabies from their friends. While, 33.6% known from the internet and social media. Approximately 57.3% of the samples have a moderate level of awareness. The place of residence, educational level, occupation and income level have significant relationships with the level of awareness, with p-values equal (0.001), (0.019), (.034) and (0.000) respectively. Conclusion: There is a lack of knowledge and awareness in Aseer especially in rural areas and needs to be strengthened through different means.

Keywords: Scabies, Saudi Arabia, Knowledge, Awareness

Medical Science, 2021, 25(114), 2019-2024

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