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Scabies infestation: the effect of intervention by public health education

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

H. F. M. Reid  and
C. D. Thorne
H. F. M. Reid
Affiliation:
Streptococcal Disease Unit, PO Box 164, Trinidad and Tobago Public Health Laboratory, Port of Spain, Trinidad
C. D. Thorne
Affiliation:
Laboratory Division, Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC), Port of Spain, Trinidad
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Summary

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The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of scabies in an infested village; to educate the residents on self-treatment and prevention by the use of 5 % monosulfiram soap; to evaluate the short term effectiveness of this intervention by determining, 2 weeks later, the compliance to self-treatment and prevention; and to determine the prevalence rate on the second visit. In 59 households (96·7% of the village) containing 313 persons, an educational session was held and a leaflet distributed on the use and availability of the soap. Thirteen persons (4·2%) from eight households (13·6%) had scabies. After 2 weeks, 7 persons (2·2%) (2 persisting and 5 new cases) from 5 households (8·5%) were infested. Thus a cure rate of 85 % was obtained though the prevalence rate showed no statistically significant difference. Among the under 15 year olds, the numbers infected decreased from 10 to 3 while among the over 15 year olds, the numbers infected increased from 3 to 4, neither reading significance at the 5 % level.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 105 , Issue 3 , December 1990 , pp. 595 - 602
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

References

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