Ovuga E B, Okello D O, Ogwal-Okeng J W, Orwotho N, Opoka R O
Department of Psychiatry, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
East Afr Med J. 1995 Jul;72(7):449-53.
Onchocerciasis affects 7% of Uganda's population and 1.5 million more people are at risk of infection with Onchocerca volvulus, the nematode that causes the disease. This paper reports the results of part of a multi-centre study whose objective was to determine the prevalence of onchocercal skin disease and its associated psychosocial importance in Uganda. The study employed a standardised clinical dermatological survey method along with the use of structured questionnaires, focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Out of a total of 993 persons examined to determine the prevalence of onchocercal skin lesions 253 persons were interviewed to determine the psychosocial importance of the disease. The results indicate that onchocercal skin disease is associated with a variety of psychosocial, physical and economic effects. The disease also leads to stigmatisation of affected persons and their families. It is suggested that dermatological effects of onchocerciasis should be recognised as an important cause of morbidity in Uganda.
盘尾丝虫病影响了乌干达7%的人口，另有150万人面临感染旋盘尾丝虫的风险，这种线虫会引发该疾病。本文报告了一项多中心研究部分结果，该研究目的是确定乌干达盘尾丝虫性皮肤病的患病率及其相关的社会心理影响。该研究采用了标准化临床皮肤病学调查方法，并使用了结构化问卷、焦点小组讨论和关键信息人访谈。在总共993名接受检查以确定盘尾丝虫性皮肤病变患病率的人中，有253人接受了访谈，以确定该疾病的社会心理影响。结果表明，盘尾丝虫性皮肤病与多种社会心理、身体和经济影响有关。该疾病还会导致患者及其家人遭受污名化。建议将盘尾丝虫病的皮肤病学影响视为乌干达发病的一个重要原因。
