Abstract:
Background Scabies has been added to the neglected tropical diseases portfolio for large-scale disease control
action since 2017 and is part of the WHO roadmap for NTDs 2021–2030, targeted at ending the neglect to achieve
the sustainable development goals. Previous studies have not fitted matched analysis to identify predictors of scabies
infestation in Ethiopia. Information is also scarce about predictors of scabies infestation in this area. Therefore, this
study aimed to identify predictors of scabies infestation in rural Aneded District, northwest Ethiopia.
Methods A community-based matched case–control study involving 183 cases and 549 controls was undertaken
from March 1 to May 31, 2021, in rural Aneded District. A two-stage sampling technique with a house-to-house census
for the screening of scabies cases was employed. A structured questionnaire with questions on sociodemographics,
behavior, water supply, sanitation, and hygiene, and delivery of scabies-specific interventions was used. Pretesting,
training of data collectors and supervisors, and supervision were applied to keep the data quality. A multivariable
conditional logistic regression model was fitted to identify predictors of scabies.
Results Unmarried individuals or those in separated families (adjusted matched odds ratio (AmOR = 2.71; 95% CI
1.30–5.65); those unable to read and write or in illiterate families (AmOR = 5.10; 95% CI 1.81–14.36); those in large families
(AmOR = 6.67; 95% CI 2.83–15.73); households that had longer travel times for water collection (AmOR = 2.27; 95%
CI 1.08–4.76); those that had low daily water consumption (AmOR = 6.69; 95% CI 2.91–15.37); households that disposed
of solid wastes in open fields (AmOR = 5.60; 95% CI 2.53–12.40); and households that did not receive scabiesspecific
interventions (AmOR = 2.98; 95% CI 1.39–6.39) had increased odds of scabies.
Conclusions Being unmarried, illiteracy, large family, long travel time for water collection, low daily water consumption,
open dumping of solid wastes, and inaccessibility of scabies-specific interventions are predictors of scabies. This
information is instrumental for redesigning improved scabies-specific interventions that consider educational status,
marital status, family size, water collection time, daily water consumption, solid waste disposal, and equity and optimization
in delivering existing interventions in rural Ethiopia.
Keywords Amhara Region, Matched analysis, Rural community, Scabies cases
