Bantie B, Kassaw G, Demelash AT, Abate MW, Nigat AB, Amare AT, Birlie TA, Tasew SF, Zeleke S, Kassie A, Tantigegn S, Ambaw LA, Muhamed AN, Melese BD. Magnitude and associated factors of cutaneous leishmaniasis among patients visiting Nefas Mewcha primary hospital, Northern Ethiopia, 2022: An institution-based Cross-sectional study.
BMJ Open 2024;
14:e075549. [PMID:
38176880 PMCID:
PMC10773395 DOI:
10.1136/bmjopen-2023-075549]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is the most common neglected tropical disease, causing stigmatised skin lesions. It is an important public health concern, with 95% of cases occurring in low-income and middle-income countries. Despite its long-recognized endemicity and psychosocial impacts, it is largely overlooked.
OBJECTIVE
The main aim of this study is to investigate the magnitude and associated factors of CL in north-central Ethiopia.
DESIGN
An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted.
SETTING
The study was conducted in Nefas Mewcha Primary Hospital (NMPH), north-central Ethiopia.
PARTICIPANTS
The study was conducted among 332 individuals visiting NMPH from June to July 2022.
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES
The primary outcome was to estimate the burden of CL among patients visiting NMPH, and the secondary outcome was to identify factors associated with the presence or absence of CL. The association between predictor variables and CL was assessed using a binary logistic regression model. Statistical significance was declared at a p _value of <0.05.
RESULT
Out of the 332 study participants, 63 patients sought medical care with skin lesions, and 61 (18.37%, 95% CI: 14.5% to 22.9%) were patients with CL. Localized CL was the predominant type (86.9%). Male sex (adjusted OR (AOR): 4.51; 95% CI 1.94 to 10.45), older age (AOR 0.91, 95% CI: 0.87 to 0.94), secondary and tertiary educational status (AOR: 0.18, 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.6), poor knowledge of CL (AOR: 4.02, 95% CI: 1.81 to 9.76) and living with domestic animals (AOR: 5.29, 95% CI 3.24 to 7.5) were identified as predictors of CL.
CONCLUSION
In the study area, the magnitude of CL was found to be high. Being male and young, having low educational status, having poor knowledge and living with domestic animals increase the risk of acquiring CL. As a result, increasing the knowledge of the community through scaling up of health education programmes and reducing activities that increase individuals' exposure to sandflies should be prioritised.
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