Magnitude and associated factors of Pityriasis Versicolor among patients attending Dermatovenereology Outpatient Department at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia, 2022

Abstract

Abstract Background: Pityriasis versicolor (PV) is a chronic superficial fungal infection caused by Malassezia species. Skin discoloration is the principal morbidity resulting from PV and this adverse cosmetic effect of lesions may lead to substantial emotional distress. A recent study showed high prevalence of fungal infection but the study lacks to incorporate any associated factors to fungal infections including PV. Therefore, this study provide the prevalence and associated factors of PV among patients attending Dermatovenereology OPD clinic at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (UGCSH) to advance the quality of health service provided for Dermatovenereology patients. Objective: To determine the magnitude of Pityriasis versicolor and its associated factors among patients attending Dermatovenereology OPD at the UGCSH, Northwest Ethiopia, 2022. Methods: Hospital based cross sectional study design was employed in this study. Systematic random sampling was used and a total of 406 participants who attended Dermatovenereology OPD at the UGCSH from May- July/2022 were included in the study. Data were collected by interview and physical examination. Then it was checked, coded, entered into Epi-Info version 7 and analyzed using Stata version 14. Both bivariable and multivariable logistic regression were employed to identify factors associated with PV. Adjusted odds ratio with their corresponding 95% CI and P-value were calculated. A P-value less than 0.05 was used to declare statistically significant variables. Results: The overall magnitude of PV among patients attending Dermatovenereology OPD at the UGCSH was 12.6% (95%CI; 9.2%, 15.0%).Those who had a diploma and above education [AOR: 95% CI; 4.67 (1.18, 18.47)], excessive sweating [AOR: 95% CI; 4.75 ( 1.92, 8.76)] being male [AOR: 95%CI; 4.19 (1.92, 9.14)], practicing regular exercise [AOR: 95% CI; 4.11 (1.93, 8.76)] and wearing heavy clothes [AOR: 95% CI; 2.53 (1.24, 5.15)] were found to be statistically significantly associated with PV.