Amoako Yaw Ampem, Oppong Michael Ntiamoah, Laryea Dennis Odai, Kyem Gloria, Gyabaah Solomon, Agbanyo Abigail, Agbavor Bernadette, Kotey Nana Konama, Dzathor Irene, Owusu-Antwi Felicia, Asiedu Kingsley, Phillips Richard Odame, Stienstra Ymkje
Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
Department of Internal Medicine/Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center, Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands.
PLoS One. 2024 Dec 6;19(12):e0312108. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0312108. eCollection 2024.
There is a dearth of information concerning the epidemiology of human scabies in prisons. Therefore, we aimed to assess the burden of scabies and ascertain if prevalence was high enough to warrant mass drug administration (MDA) with ivermectin in a medium security prison in central Ghana.
We conducted a cross-sectional study in December 2022 and recruited inmates at the Kumasi central prison in Ghana. Medical history and demographic information was collected using a REDCap questionnaire. A standardised skin examination of exposed regions of the body was performed on all participants and scabies was diagnosed based on the criteria of the International Alliance for the Control of Scabies (IACS).
Of the 559 participants, 19 (3.4%) were female. The median (IQR) age was 36 (33-40) years. There were 368 cases (65.8%) of scabies which was mostly located on the hands, fingers and finger webs. No female inmate had scabies. Scabies severity was predominantly mild (63.3%) or moderate (30.7%). Among males, the median (IQR) number of persons per cell was 115 (56-118) and 7 (7-8) for female prisoners. 79.2% of 96 individuals previously treated in the preceding two months still demonstrated skin manifestations of scabies. Impetigo was found in 12.9% of participants. Seventeen percent of participants with scabies had impetigo compared to 5.8% in individuals without scabies [RR 2.9 (95% CI 1.6-5.5)].
A very high proportion of inmates suffered from scabies in the prison. MDA with ivermectin and health education are needed to reduce the burden of scabies in the prison. Its implementation and effectiveness should be studied.
关于监狱中人类疥疮流行病学的信息匮乏。因此，我们旨在评估疥疮负担，并确定加纳中部一所中等安全级别的监狱中疥疮患病率是否高到足以进行伊维菌素群体给药（MDA）。
我们于2022年12月进行了一项横断面研究，并在加纳库马西中央监狱招募囚犯。使用REDCap问卷收集病史和人口统计学信息。对所有参与者进行身体暴露部位的标准化皮肤检查，并根据国际疥疮控制联盟（IACS）的标准诊断疥疮。
在559名参与者中，19名（3.4%）为女性。年龄中位数（四分位间距）为36（33 - 40）岁。有368例（65.8%）疥疮病例，主要位于手部、手指和指蹼。没有女性囚犯患有疥疮。疥疮严重程度主要为轻度（63.3%）或中度（30.7%）。男性中，每个牢房的人数中位数（四分位间距）为115（56 - 118），女性囚犯为7（7 - 8）。在前两个月接受过治疗的96人中，79.2%仍有疥疮的皮肤表现。12.9%的参与者患有脓疱病。患有疥疮的参与者中有17%患有脓疱病，而没有疥疮的个体中这一比例为5.8%[相对危险度2.9（95%置信区间1.6 - 5.5）]。
监狱中很大比例的囚犯患有疥疮。需要进行伊维菌素群体给药和健康教育以减轻监狱中疥疮的负担。应研究其实施情况和效果。
