Abstract
IntroductionTungiasis is an endemic but neglected health problem in Uganda especially in resource poor communities. It is largely affecting rural communities in the Eastern, West Nile and Central regions. This study assessed prevalence and risk factors associated with tungiasis in Mayuge district, Eastern Uganda.MethodsThis was a cross sectional study that used a semi-structured questionnaire and observational checklist to collect quantitative data from 422 households in 12 villages. Prevalence of tungiasis was defined as presence of Tunga penetrans in the skin of any household member at the time of data collection.ResultsThe prevalence of tungiasis was 22.5%. However, a big percentage 41.5% of households were reported to have had T. penetrans in the previous month while 49.5% had T. penetrans for more than one month. Majority (90.5%)of the participants used a pin, needle, or thorn to remove sand flea from infected body parts. Having dirty feet (AOR 3.86, CI (1.76-8.34)), dirty clothes (AOR 3.46, CI (2.00-5.97)), cracked house floor (AOR =6.28, CI (3.28-12.03)), dirty floor (AOR 3.21, CI (1.38-7.46)), littered compounds (AOR= 2.95, CI (1.66-5.26)) and rearing cattle (AOR 2.38, CI (1.28-4.45)) were associated with tungiasis. However, practicing preventive measures (AOR 0.51, CI (0.29-0.90)) was found protective for disease.ConclusionTungiasis is still a prevalent health problem in rural communities in Eastern Uganda due to a number of individual (host) and environmental factors. There is need to increase awareness regarding improvement in sanitation and hygiene to enable communities’ implements interventions for prevention of T. penetrans.
Highlights
Tungiasis is an endemic but neglected health problem in Uganda especially in resource poor communities
This study sought to assess the prevalence and risk factors associated with tungiasis in order to inform about modifiable risk factors that should be addressed by interventions to prevent and control the disease
The study participants were household heads who had lived in the area for at least one year and other household member who were observed for T. penetrans lesions
Summary
Tungiasis is an endemic but neglected health problem in Uganda especially in resource poor communities It is largely affecting rural communities in the Eastern, West Nile and Central regions. Called Tunga penetrans infestation, is a parasitic skin infestation due to penetration of a female sand flea (Tunga penetrans) into the skin of its host [1] It is one of the neglected tropical parasitic diseases [2] and has remained an important public health problem especially among economically challenged communities in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean [3]. Surgical extraction of embedded sand fleas for example is a laborious process that wastes a lot of time which would be used in doing other economically productive activities This further perpetuates poverty within the infested communities [13]. This study sought to assess the prevalence and risk factors associated with tungiasis in order to inform about modifiable risk factors that should be addressed by interventions to prevent and control the disease
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