International Journal of Public Health Science (IJPHS)

Vol. 11, No. 3, September 2022, pp. 989~997

ISSN: 2252-8806, DOI: 10.11591/ijphs.v11i3.21395  989

Scabies among children in Ethiopia

Desta Marmara1, Hailemichael Mulugeta2, Steven Thygerson3, Adane Ermias1,4

1
Department of Environmental Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia
2
Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Debre Berhan University, Amhara, Ethiopia
3
Department of Public Health, College of Life Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, USA
4
Ethiopian Institute of Water Resources, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Article Info ABSTRACT

Article history: Scabies disease is a common and unacceptable disease among young
children in developing countries including Ethiopia. This study assessed the
Received Oct 2, 2021 prevalence and factors associated with scabies among 5-14 year old children
Revised May 18, 2022 in Boricha District, Sidama Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Multi-stage sampling
Accepted Jun 21, 2022 was employed and children were examined for scabies followed by parent
interviews. Descriptive statistic and multivariable analyses were used.
Among 590 selected school age children, the prevalence of scabies was 98
Keywords: (16.6%) [95% CI: 13.6-19.7]. No formal education status of mothers [3.20 ,
95% CI (1.03-9.90)], poor household wealth index [3.14, 95% CI (1.10-
Associated factors 8.91)], children age 10-14 years [1.84, 95% CI (1.02-3.323)], practice of
Children sharing a bed with a person who had itching lesion [3.38, 95% CI (1.51-
Ethiopia 7.58)], skin contact with person who had itching lesion [11.67, 95% CI
Scabies (5.07-26.9)], family member with itchy signs [12.7, 95% CI (5.3-30.6)],
frequency of bath of once in more than every two weeks [3.52, 95% CI
(1.46-8.74)] were significantly associated with the scabies disease. The
prevalence of scabies in the study area was substantially high. Family
socioeconomic characteristics and hygiene practice were associated with
scabies. Prevention should be focused on economic empowerment and
hygiene-related interventions.
This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA license.

Corresponding Author:
Hailemichael Mulugeta
Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Debre Berhan University
09 School of Computing, Debre Birhan, Etiopia
Email: hailumary464@gmail.com

1. INTRODUCTION
The Scabies, caused by Sarcoptes scabiei var hominis, is a parasitic infestation. The parasite is a
microscopic mite that burrows into the skin and lays larvae, inducing an immune response from the host that
results in extreme itching and rash [1]. Transmission of scabies is person-to-person by skin contact with an
infested individual [1], [2] and the probability transmission increases due to contact with individuals with
crusted scabies [1]. The disease occurs worldwide [2] and the highest rates of infestation were reported from
countries with hot, tropical climates and where an environment of overcrowding and poverty co-exist [1].
Schools, prisons and refugee camps are institutions where individuals are vulnerable for scabies disease [3], [4].
The infestation is estimated to affect more than 200 million globally and prevalence is estimated in
the recent scabies-related literature range from 0.2% to 71.4% [1], [5]. It is also a common disease in African
countries [6]. The prevalence of scabies was substantially higher in children than in adolescents and adults
[4]. The prevalence varies from 2.9% in Nigeria, [7] 4% in Mali, [8] 4.4% in Egypt, [9] 17.8% in Cameroon
[3] to 9.3-48.1% in Ethiopia [10]–[12]. Despite studies reporting high prevalence, scabies has never been
accorded a priority in health programs including active screening in communities and in schools [13].

Journal homepage: http://ijphs.iaescore.com

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Moreover, scabies is considered a neglected tropical disease (NTDs) [6], [13] and as skin NTDs are often
underreported [13], Ethiopia developed a master plan in 2013 [14] and 2016 [15] to address interventions for
NTDs. The plan was implemented from 2013-2015 and 2015/16-2019/20, respectively, in all regions of
Ethiopia. Unfortunetally, scabies was not included in the list of NTD-prioritized diseases for intervention in
the country [14], [15]. In addition, as scabies is also a common contagious parasitic skin disease [16],
prevalent skin disease among school children [11], [17]–[20] and attack rate is high among age 5-14 years
than other age (0-4 and >15) [11], [21]. Studies among the most affected age group is scant in the country.
Therefore, this study aimed to assesses the prevalence and its associated factors of scabies among 5–14 year
old children, in Boricha District, Sidama Zone, Ethiopia.

2. RESEARCH METHOD
2.1. Study setting and period
The study was conducted in the Boricha District, Southern Ethiopia, which is 306 km away from
Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. According to the District Health office report, the estimated population
in 2018 was 332,791. Among these 106,493 (32%) of the population were 5-14 years-old children [22]. The
district had 42 kebeles (lowest administrative units). The district’s climate was characterized as 87% hot
climate and 13% medium climate. The health service coverage of the district was 85%. According to 2017
District`s Water and Energy office report, about two-thirds (65%) of households obtain their drinking water
from an improved source [23]. A community-based cross-sectional study design was employed from January
20 to February 5, 2019.

2.2. The study population

All 5-14 year-old children in the Boricha district were the source population and all 5-14 year-old
children in selected district kebeles were included in the study population. Children ages 5-14 years who
were severely ill from other diseases at the time of study were excluded.

2.3. Sample size and sampling procedure

A sample size of 604 children was determined by using the single population proportion formula
with the assumptions of 52.1% proportion of scabies, [24] 5% margin of error, 95% confidence level, 1.5
design effect, and 5% added for nonresponses. Multi-stage sampling was used to select the representative
study participants. The first stage was a lottery method to select eight kebeles among 42 kebeles in the
district. According to previous existing census data, there were a total of 19,044 eligible children in the
selected kebeles [22]. The sample population for each kebele was allocated proportional to the size. No
sampling frame was set to select the study subjects. Therefore, a modified method of cluster sampling
recommended by the Expanded Program on Immunization of the World Health Organization was used in the
second stage [25]. In this stage, household selection was undertaken randomly with the assumption to
providing all the households having at least one child of 5-14 years old a fair chance of being selected. The
data collectors utilized a centrally located landmark (such as a church, mosque and school) and then the
walking direction was selected randomly with spinning a pen pointing the direction to walk (North, South,
East, West or nearest of any direction). All households in the selected direction (from the landmark to the
Kebele boundary) were considered as a cluster. If there were more than one eligible child in the same
household, one was selected with a lottery method. Similar activities were done until the required sample size
was obtained from a kebele.

2.4. Scabies diagnostic approach and operational definitions

Case definition and skin examination were the basis of a symptomatic description used by other
scabies studies [7], [10], [24], [26]. Signs and symptoms included the presence of itching, linear burrows,
visible lesions on at least two sites of the body (around the finger webs, wrists, upper and lower limbs,
genitalia in boys, breast areolae in girls and belt area) at the time of data collection.

2.5. Data collection tool and procedure

A pre-tested and structured questionnaire was used to collect information from each child’s parent
and an observation checklist was used to collect physical examination data. The interview questionnaire and
observation checklist were developed based on published literature and previous studies of similar setting
studies [3], [7], [10], [24], [26]–[28]. The data collection was conducted during the academic break when the
school pupils were in homes. The selected children were examined for scabies and simultaneously their
mothers were interviewed. Physical examination was conducted by experienced nursing professionals based
on an examination checklist.

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Scabies status was considered as the dependent variable. The independent variables were socio-
demographic factors, home environment and personal hygiene practices. Household wealth index was used to
assess the economic status of the household. It was scored based on the number and types of materials or
household assets like the presence of beds with cotton or sponge, radio or television, animal drawn cart to
motorcycle, and other assets including owning livestock to farm land, stored raw consumable food like grain,
cereals, and coffee, in quantities equal to or greater than a quintal.
The quality of data was ensured in various ways. The tools were developed in the English language
and latter translated to “Sidamu Affoo” (local language of Sidama zone). The questionnaire was translated
back to English by language experts to ensure the consistency. Eight diploma registered nurses for data
collection and two bachelor degree health officers for supervision were selected based on ability to
communicate in the local language and clinical work experience. They were trained for two days on the
purpose of the study, the tools, interviewing techniques, discipline or approach to the interviewees and
confidentiality of the respondents. The tools were pre-tested on 5% of the total sample size outside the study
area’s selected kebeles with active involvement of the data collectors and supervisors. Based on the pre-test
results, minor modifications on the data collection approach were planned and the tools were slightly
modified and finalized for data collection. Data collection was employed into two important approaches:
Individual interview from mothers or care givers with a verbal response and physical examination of children
body for scabies diseases.

2.6. Data processing and analysis

The collected data were error checked and coded before entered in to the computer database. Then
data was entered using a data entry template created on Epi info version 7 software. Next, the data were
exported to the statistical package for the social sciences software (SPSS) version 20 for further cleaning and
analysis. Frequencies and cross tabulations were used to summarize the data. Crude and adjusted odds ratios
from bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to measure the association between variables. In the
present study, there were many independent variables from the interview, hence variables with a p-value
below 0.25 with the outcome variable in the bivariate analysis were entered into the multivariable logistic
regression model to reduce the confounder effect [29]–[31]. The required assumptions of the logistic
regression were checked with Hosmer and Lemeshow fit test statistics. Odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence
interval (CI) at p-value<0.05 was used to declare the presence and the strength of association in the
multivariable analysis.

2.7. Ethics approval and consent to participate

An ethical approval and clearance were obtained from the institutional review board (IRB) of the
College of Medicine and Health Science, Hawassa University. A formal letter about the study was sent from
the College to the District leaders. The objective of the study was explained for kebele leaders and parents.
Informed written consent was obtained from every participant’s parent or guardians and assent was obtained
for children before collecting the data. The right of each respondent to refuse or answer for limited or all
questions was respected. Omitting names of the study subjects from the questionnaire, re-plastering face of
children on image were methods used to assure confidentiality of the information.

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

3.1. Results
3.1.1. Socio-demographic characteristics of study population
A total of 590 households with at least one child 5-14 years old were identified from the selected
clusters. All mothers in the 590 households were interviewed and 590 children (97.7% of sample size) were
examined for scabies diseases. Out of the total children, 335 (56.8%) were male and more than half (52%) of
the children were in the 10-14 years age group. One hundred twenty (20.5%) of children were from
households in the lowest wealth index as shown in Table 1.

3.1.2. Home environment

Out of all participated children, 427 (72.4%) share a bed with other people in the household and 483
(81.9%) share the same room with animals. The majority, 545 (92.4%) of the respondents, live in houses with
floors made from mud as presented in Table 2.

Scabies among children in Ethiopia (Desta Marmara)

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Table 1. Socio-demographic characteristics of respondent

Variable n=590 Frequency (%)
Sex of children
Male 335 (56.8)
Female 255 (43.2)
Age category
5-9 283 (48.0)
10-14 307 (52.0)
Mother’s education
No formal education 304 (51.5)
Primary education 216 (36.6)
Secondary education and above 70 (11.9)
Father’s education
No formal education 329 (55.8)
Primary education (1-8) 233 (39.5)
Secondary education (9-12) and above 28 (4.7)
Mother’s Occupation
Housewife 488 (82.7)
Farmer 77 (13.1)
Merchant/Employed/Other 25 (4.2)
Father’s Occupation
Farmer 460 (78)
Merchant 113 (19.2)
Employed/Other 17 (2.8)
Household family size
≤5 252 (42.7)
>5 338 (57.3)
Household wealth Index
Lowest 121 (20.5)
Second 116 (19.7)
Middle 117 (19.8)
Fourth 118 (20.0)
Highest 118 (0.0)

Table 2. Home environment factors of respondent

Variable Frequency (%)
Average water utilization in Liter per capita per day
>5 420 (71.2)
≤5 170 (28.8)
Share same room with animals
Yes 483 (81.9)
No 107 (18.1)
Number of rooms in house
One 19(3.2)
Two 117 (19.8)
Three and above 454 (77.0)
House roof made from
Grasses 516 (87.5)
Corrugated iron sheet 74 (12.5)
House floor made from
Mud 545 (92.4)
Other material 45 (7.6)
House walls made from
Wood and mud 569 (96.4)
Brick/stone 21 (3.6)

3.1.3. Personal hygiene of respondents

More than three fourths, 476 (80.7%) of respondents had no history of skin contact with a person
who had itching skin lesion. Regarding bathing habits, more than half, 340 (57.6%), of respondents wash
their body once every two weeks and almost all 563 (95.4%) of respondents, use soap whenever they wash
their body as shown in Table 3.

3.1.4. Prevalence of scabies

Of the 590 participating children, 98 (16.6%) [95% CI: 13.6%, 19.7%] were suffering with scabies.
Almost all children diagnosed with scabies, 96 (98%), the rash and lesions were observed on their finger
webs and wrists area. Among affected children, 57 (58.2%) were male and 60 (61.2%) were age 10-14 years.

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Table 3. Personal hygiene practice of respondents

Variable Frequency (%)
Skin contact with person who had itching lesion
Yes 114 (19.3)
No 476 (80.7)
Child’s travel history to an area where people have itching skin lesion
Yes 72 (12.2)
No 518 (87.8)
Family member with itchy signs
Yes 43 (7.3%)
No 547 (92.7%)
Sharing bed with person who had itching lesion
Yes 427 (72.4)
No 163 (27.6)
Frequency of washing clothes
Every week 437 (74.1)
Every two weeks 132 (22.4)
Once per more than two weeks 21 (3.6)
Frequency of bath
Every week 162 (27.5)
Every two weeks 340 (57.6)
Once per more than two weeks 88 (14.9)
Using soap when washing body
Yes 563 (95.4)
No 27 (4.6)
Sharing clothes with any another person
Yes 119 (20.2)
No 471 (79.8)
Frequency of changing clothes
Change once per every week 199 (33.7)
Change more than every week 39 (06.6)
No clothes to change 352(59.7)

3.1.5. Factors associated with scabies

Each variable was analyzed using bivariate logistic regression, and variables with a p-value of less
than 0.25 were fitted to the multivariable logistic regression. Variables including sex of children, occupation
of mother, house constructed materials and frequency of washing clothes were not fitted (p<0.25). In the
multivariable analysis, mother’s education, wealth index, child’s age, sharing bed with those who had itching
lesion, skin contact with person who had itching lesion, family member with itchy signs and frequency of
bath were significantly associated with the scabies at p<0.05 as shown in Table 4 (See Appendix).

3.2. Discussion
Scabies is a neglected public health problem and very common among young children in many
developing countries including Ethiopia. This study addressed the prevalence of scabies and associated
factors among children of age 5-14 years in Boricha District, Sidama Zone, Sothern Ethiopia. The prevalence
of scabies among 5-14 year-old children was 16.6% [95% CI: 13.6%, 19.7%] in the study area. This finding
is consistence with a study focused on 5-15 year old school age children in Fiji with a prevalence of 18.5 %
[17]. The current prevalence is higher than that reported in Nigeria (2.9%), [7] Egypt (4.4%) [9] and Mali
(4%); [8] and lower than the rates in Fiji (52.1%) [24]. The explanation for such a difference might be due to
the small sample size (206) in the Nigerian study and school age children. This means that in all studies
except Fiji, 5-14 year-old children might not be well-represented. In addition, socio-economic differences in
the study areas might be another explanation for the inconsistency. In the current study, about 40% of
participants were from lower wealth index (poor households) and participants were the vulnerable age group
to scabies. Evidence shows that scabies is common among resource poor communities [2], [31], [32] and
4-14 year old children [11], [21].
Selected socio-demographic like the child’s maternal education, wealth of the household and age of
children were significantly associated with scabies. Children’s mothers, who had no formal education, had a risk
for scabies more than three times that of mothers with secondary education and above. This finding is supported
by a similar studies [9], [28]. Most children’s mothers (82.7%) in the study area were housewives. Educated
mothers might have better awareness of personal hygiene and give better care for their children. Also,
household economic status was significantly associated with scabies. Children from households of second tier
wealth indexes had more than three times the odds of scabies infection compared with highest wealth index. It is
consistence with another study in Ethiopia [33]. It might be due to the fact that scabies is more common
problem among low economic status household than high [1], [20], [28], [31]. Moreover, children ages 10-14
years had more risk of scabies that children age 5-9 years. This is consistence with other findings [21]. Evidence

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shows that the prevalence of skin diseases are more common in older children than in younger children (<10
years) [34]. The possible explanation might be that a child age 10-14 years had more skin contact with others
while spending much of their time playing outdoors with their friends than children ages 5-9 years.
In the present study, personal hygiene related factors include body bath frequency, personal contact
with another person and sharing a bed were significant predictors of scabies infestation. Taking a bath only
once in more than two weeks has a higher risk of developing scabies when compared to taking a bath more
regularly. This was in line with studies in Ethiopia [12], [35], [36]. It might be due to the fact that scabies
infection is linked with poor personal hygiene practice [33], [37]. Children who had a history of skin contact
with people who had itching lesion are more than 11 times more likely to develop scabies compared to those
without similar prior contact. This is consistence with other studies in Ethiopia [12], [35], [36]. In addition,
children with a history of sharing a bed with people who had itching lesion had more than three time the odds
of scabies infestation compared with those who do not share a bed with another person with scabies. Our
study was in agreement with studies from Pakistan, Egypt and Ethiopia [3], [9], [11], [27]. In addition,
children living with household members with scabies were twelve times more likely to develop scabies. This
is consistent with studies among school children in Cameron, Egypt and Ethiopia [3], [9], [12]. The possible
reason for these three findings might be due to that the parasite can easily transfer from one to another
through close skin contact with an infested individual, [2] contact with personal items like a bed [2] and if
there is any infested individual in the household who may serve as a source of scabies infection [26].
The uses of standard case definition for scabies, high participation rate, focusing on several household
and housing-related factors in the communities were the strengths of this study. However, the examinations
based on clinical observation in the absence of dermoscopy and/or skin scrapings/microscopy was a limitation.

4. CONCLUSION
Generally, the prevalence of scabies in the study area was substantially high. This study agrees well
with the prevalence range of other global and Ethiopian scabies study findings. Socio-demographic factors
like the child’s mother’s education, wealth of the household and age of children, hygiene-related factors
including frequency of bathing and sharing bed with a person who had itching lesions, the presence of a
family member who had a history of itchy skin rash, and skin contact with a person who had itching lesions
were factors associated with scabies infestation among children 5-14 years old. Finally, we recommend to
government and non-government organizations to focus on economic empowerment and hygiene-related
intervention. Communities should recognize these risk factors, take them seriously and provide interventions.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors would like to acknowledge the efforts made by the Hawassa University College of
Medicine and Health Sciences for financial support for the research project. Our heartfelt gratitude goes to
Boricha District Government office workers for their genuine support and giving required information. The
authors also extend our deepest gratitude to the study participants.

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BIOGRAPHIES OF AUTHORS

Desta Marmara is an Environmental Health expert and serving in health offices

of Sidama Regional State, Ethiopia. His experience geos to supervising Health Extension
Packages at Boricha Woreda, Worancha Waco Health Center. Currently he is working as focal
person in Darara Woreda Health Office on position of Malaria and Neglected tropical disease
(NTD). He is emphasized on primary health care service delivery and community level
WASH. He can be contacted at email: destamarmara1@gmail.com.

Scabies among children in Ethiopia (Desta Marmara)

996  ISSN: 2252-8806

Hailemichael Mulugeta is an assistant professor of Environmental and

Occupational Health and has served as a lecturer and researcher in College of Health Science,
Debre Berhan University, Ethiopia. His experience and research are emphasized on
Environmental and occupational-related determinants of Health. He has published main
research finding on international peer-reviewed open access journal. He can be contacted at
email: hailumary464@gmail.com.

Steve Thygerson is professor in the Department of Public Health at Brigham

Young University in Provo, Utah, USA teaching occupational health and toxicology courses
for the past 14 years. Prior to his appointment at BYU, he worked for 9 years in various
occupational and environmental health settings in the public and private sector. Steve received
his bachelor’s degree in Zoology from Brigham Young University, a masters degree from the
University of Utah and his Ph.D. in environmental health from Colorado State University. He
is a Certified Industrial Hygienist. He is a past-chair of the International Affairs Committee of
the American Industrial Hygiene Association. As a member of Workplace Health Without
Borders, he mentors other occupational hygienists and providing occupational health training
worldwide. Those countries include Nepal, Brazil, South Africa, Mozambique, Ethiopia, and
Pakistan. He can be contacted at email: steven.thygerson@byu.edu.

Adane Ermias is lecturer in the Department of Environmental Health at Hawassa

University (HU) in Hawassa, Ethiopia. He is teaching Environmental Health courses like
Environmental epidemiology, Community water supply, Water treatment, Biological and
physicochemical water quality management, Occupational Health and Safety for the past 9
years. Before employed at HU, he worked for 2 years in various primary health care and
service delivery office, disease prevention and health promotion. Adane has graduated with
bachelor’s degree in Environmental Health from Haramaya University, Ethiopia, a masters
degree Environmental Health from Jimma University, Ethiopia, and he is a PhD candidate,
with Water and Public Health specialization, from Ethiopian Institute of Water Resources,
Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. Adane is a member and a past regional chapter coordinator
of Ethiopian Environmental Health Professional Association (EEHPA). His contact address
through email and phone are: eadane@ymail.com.

APPENDIX

Table 4. Multivariate analysis of individual factors associated with scabies diseases 5-14 year-old children in
Boricha district, South Ethiopia, 2019 (Continue)
Scabies disease
Variables (n=590) COR (95% CI) AOR (95% CI) p-value
Yes No
Household family size
≤5 36 (14.3%) 215 (85.7%) 1 1

>5 277 (81.7%) 62 (18.3%) 1.34 (0.85-2.09) 0.79 (0.45-1.46)

Mother’s education
3.331(1.29,
No formal education 62 (20.4%) 242 (79.6%) 3.20 (1.03-9.90)* 0.044
8.62)*
2.178 (0.81,
Primary education 31 (14.4%) 185 (85.5%) 2.03 (0.63-6.56) 0.239
5.84)
Secondary and above 5 (7.1%) 65 (92.9%) 1 1
Father’s education
No formal education 61 (18.5%) 268 (81.5%) 2.96 (0.68-12.8) 2.77 (0.28-27.4) 0.383
Primary education 35 (15.0%) 198 (85.0%) 2.30 (0.52-10.1) 2.34 (0.24-22.4) 0.461
Secondary and above 2 (7.1%) 26 (92.9%) 1 1
Father’s occupation
Farmer 80 (17.4%) 380 (82.6%) 1 1
Merchant 17 (15.0%) 96 (85.0%) 0.84 (0.48-1.49) 1.22 (0.59-2.53) 0.600
Other 1 (5.9%) 16 (94.1%) 0.30 (0.04-2.27) 0.18 (0.01-2.44) 0.200
Wealth index
2.27 (1.02-
Poorest 21 (17.4%) 100 (82.6%) 1.86 (0.65-5.33) 0.252
5.05)*
3.28 (1.51-
Poor 27 (23.3%) 89 (76.7%) 3.14 (1.10-8.91) * 0.032
7.13)*
Medium 16 (13.7%) 101 (86.3%) 1.71 (0.74-3.95) 1.68 (0.56-5.07) 0.359

Int J Public Health Sci, Vol. 11, No. 3, September 2022: 989-997
Int J Public Health Sci ISSN: 2252-8806  997

Table 4. Multivariate analysis of individual factors associated with scabies diseases 5-14 year-old children in
Boricha district, South Ethiopia, 2019 (Continue)
Scabies disease
Variables (n=590) COR (95% CI) AOR (95% CI) p-value
Yes No
Rich 24 (20.3%) 94 (79.7%) 2.76 (1.25-6.06) 2.62 (0.95-7.25) 0.064
Richest 10 (8.5%) 108 (91.5%) 1 1
Children’s age
5-9 38 (13.4%) 245 (86.6%) 1 1
1.57 (1.01-2.44)
10-14 60 (19.5%) 247 (80.5%) 1.84 (1.02-3.32) * 0.043
*
Number of rooms in the house
One 6 (31.6%) 13 (68.4%) 2.67 (0.98-7.26) 2.44 (0.53-11.3) 0.254
Two 25 (21.4%) 92 (78.6%) 1.57 (0.94-2.62) 0.89 (0.42-1.88) 0.767
Three and above 67 (14.8%) 387 (85.2%) 1 1
Share same room with animals
Yes 74 (15.3%) 409 (84.7%) 0.63 (0.37-1.05) 0.96 (0.47-1.99) 0.919
No 24 (22.4%) 83 (77.6%) 1
Sharing bed with person who had
itching lesion
3.54 (1.84-6.81)
Yes 87 (20.4%) 340 (79.6%) 3.38 (1.51-7.58) * 0.003
*
No 11 (6.7%) 152 (93.3%) 1 1
Sharing clothes with others
2.26 (1.39-3.65)
Yes 32 (26.9%) 87 (73.1%) 0.83 (0.40-1.72) 0.617
*
No 66 (14.0%) 405 (86.0%) 1 1
Skin contacts with person who had
itching lesion
11.3 (6.92-18.4)
Yes 58 (50.9%) 56 (49.1%) 11.67(5.07-26.9) * .001
*
No 40 (8.4%) 436 (91.6%)
Children’s travel history to an area
where people have itching skin lesion
Yes 35 (48.6%) 37 (51.4%) 6.83 (4.01-11.6) * 1.25 (0.51-3.05) 0.622
No 63 (12.2%) 455 (87.8%) 1 1
Family member with itchy signs
12.7 (5.3-30.6)
Yes 28 (65.1%) 15 (34.9%) 12.7 (6.47-24.9) * .001
*
No 70 (12.8%) 477 (87.2%) 1 1
Frequency of bath
Every week 20 (12.3%) 142 87.7%) 1 1
Every two weeks 48 (14.1%) 292 (85.9%) 1.17 (0.67-2.04)* 1.79 (0.87-3.67) .115
3.52 (1.46-
Once per more than two weeks 30 (34.1%) 58 (65.9%) 3.67 (1.93-6.99)* .005
8.74)*
* Significant at p-value<0.05

Scabies among children in Ethiopia (Desta Marmara)