Assessment of Knowledge toward Scabies, its Transmission and Prevention among Syrian Refugees in North of Jordan

Abstract

Background: Scabies is one of the prevalent dermatological conditions, accounting for a substantial proportion of skin diseases in developing countries. It represents a significant health challenge when an outbreak appears in homecare and refugee camps as it may lead to enormous morbidity and high treatment costs. Because scabies can be easily prevented through education, the purpose of this study was to assess the level of scabies knowledge among Syrian refugees in Jordan's northern region. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted among Syrian refugees who attend a primary health center in northern Jordan, Ramtha from March 2021 to April 2021. The targeted population was adult Syrian refugees, above the age of 18. Two thousand participants were included in this study using simple random selection. The study questionnaire included questions about socio-demographic characteristics and knowledge questions such as: ever hearing about scabies, causes of scabies, signs and symptoms of scabies and its way of transmission. The data was analyzed using (SPSS) version 25. Results: Females with a mean age of 37.9 years old comprised the majority of the participants. The majority of the participants was married and had intermediate levels of education. The level of knowledge about scabies was poor among the majority of the respondents (N=1259); 321 respondents had moderate knowledge, while only 650 had good knowledge. A statistically significant association was found between knowledge score and all demographic characteristics, including gender, marital status, income and educational level.Conclusion: The general knowledge about Scabies among Syrian refugees is relatively low, with 1259 out of 2000 participants having a poor knowledge score. Health education for refugees is needed to improve their knowledge and help implement prevention programs.