Prevalence and determinants of scabies among school-age children in selected public primary schools of Debre Tabor town, Northwest Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study, 2023

Abstract

• Scabies affected about 12.3% of school children in Debre Tabor town. • Determinants were household crowding, poor hygiene, and limited water access. • Scabies caused distress, absenteeism, and reduced academic performance • First study on scabies prevalence among schoolchildren in Debre Tabor town. • Interventions should target hygiene education, water, and behavior factors. Scabies is a parasitic skin infestation affecting all ages worldwide and is classified as a neglected tropical disease. Poverty and poor hygiene drive its spread. Despite national control strategies, scabies remains prevalent in Ethiopia, yet data on its burden and risk factors among school children in Debre Tabor town are limited. To assess the prevalence and determinants of scabies among school-age children in selected public primary schools in Debre Tabor town, Northwest Ethiopia. Institution‑based cross‑sectional study was conducted May 5–30, 2023, among 302 school‑age children randomly selected from five primary schools. Data were collected via structured questionnaire and physical examination, with quality assured through pretesting and supervision. Entries were made in Epi‑data 4.6 and analyzed in SPSS 24. Variables with p-value < 0.25 in bivariate analysis entered multivariate logistic regression. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported, with significance at p-value < 0.05 . The prevalence of scabies was 12.3% (95% CI: 9.3%, 17.2%). Significant factors included family size >5 (AOR = 4.2, 95% CI: 1.20–16.35), unimproved water source (AOR = 5.3, 95% CI: 1.38–20.22), handwashing with water only (AOR = 4.8, 95% CI: 1.22–18.66), sharing clothes (AOR = 3.7, 95% CI: 1.05–13.31), bed sharing (AOR = 6.5, 95% CI: 1.40–30.50) and traveling ≥30 minutes to fetch water (AOR = 4.9, 95% CI: 1.15–21.09) Scabies prevalence among school-age children in Debre Tabor was high, driven by household crowding, poor hygiene, and limited water. Targeted interventions in hygiene education, safe water, and behavioral change are essential.