Assessment of causes, knowledge and risk factors of scabies among general population in Wasit province, Iraq

Scabies is a serious global public health problem that may impact people from all socioeconomic types of life. Poverty and overcrowding appear to be the major causes of scabies infestation. The goal of this study was to determine the causes, risk factors, and awareness of scabies among the general population in the Wasit, Iraq. A total of 143 individuals were studied in this cross-sectional study at the Wasit province’s general hospitals/consulting dermatology rooms. Data collection extends from the 1st of April to the 1st of July 2021. A pre-tested questionnaire was adopted and filled through a face-to-face interview and indirect through an electronic platform published on social media. Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics. The sociodemographic features of the subjects revealed that there were 60 (42%) males and 83 females (58%). The majority (84.6%) of the respondents was from urban areas and (15.4%) were from rural areas. About (51.7%) of the participants have 5-7 members in their families. Scabies is a well-known dermatological disease, commonly seen in low socioeconomic and crowded families that share beds and towels. Thorough their medium education, participants have a good percentage of knowledge that scabies is contagious but curable.