Burden of Scabies in a Ghanaian Penitentiary

Overview

Journal PLoS One

Specialties General Medicine
Science

Date 2024 Dec 6

PMID 39642185

Authors

Yaw Ampem Amoako

Michael Ntiamoah Oppong

Dennis Odai Laryea

Gloria Kyem

Solomon Gyabaah

Abigail Agbanyo

Bernadette Agbavor

Nana Konama Kotey

Irene Dzathor

Felicia Owusu-Antwi

Kingsley Asiedu

Richard Odame Phillips

Ymkje Stienstra

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: There is a dearth of information concerning the epidemiology of human scabies in prisons. Therefore, we aimed to assess the burden of scabies and ascertain if prevalence was high enough to warrant mass drug administration (MDA) with ivermectin in a medium security prison in central Ghana.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in December 2022 and recruited inmates at the Kumasi central prison in Ghana. Medical history and demographic information was collected using a REDCap questionnaire. A standardised skin examination of exposed regions of the body was performed on all participants and scabies was diagnosed based on the criteria of the International Alliance for the Control of Scabies (IACS).

Results: Of the 559 participants, 19 (3.4%) were female. The median (IQR) age was 36 (33-40) years. There were 368 cases (65.8%) of scabies which was mostly located on the hands, fingers and finger webs. No female inmate had scabies. Scabies severity was predominantly mild (63.3%) or moderate (30.7%). Among males, the median (IQR) number of persons per cell was 115 (56-118) and 7 (7-8) for female prisoners. 79.2% of 96 individuals previously treated in the preceding two months still demonstrated skin manifestations of scabies. Impetigo was found in 12.9% of participants. Seventeen percent of participants with scabies had impetigo compared to 5.8% in individuals without scabies [RR 2.9 (95% CI 1.6-5.5)].

Conclusion: A very high proportion of inmates suffered from scabies in the prison. MDA with ivermectin and health education are needed to reduce the burden of scabies in the prison. Its implementation and effectiveness should be studied.

References

Mason D, Marks M, Sokana O, Solomon A, Mabey D, Romani L . The Prevalence of Scabies and Impetigo in the Solomon Islands: A Population-Based Survey. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2016; 10(6):e0004803. PMC: 4922659. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004803. View

Hay R, Steer A, Engelman D, Walton S . Scabies in the developing world--its prevalence, complications, and management. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2012; 18(4):313-23. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2012.03798.x. View

Mounsey K, Bernigaud C, Chosidow O, McCarthy J . Prospects for Moxidectin as a New Oral Treatment for Human Scabies. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2016; 10(3):e0004389. PMC: 4795782. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004389. View

Greig J, Lee M, Harris J . Review of enteric outbreaks in prisons: effective infection control interventions. Public Health. 2011; 125(4):222-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2010.12.006. View

Leppard B, Naburi A . The use of ivermectin in controlling an outbreak of scabies in a prison. Br J Dermatol. 2000; 143(3):520-3. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2000.03704.x. View

Doe P, Asiedu A, Acheampong J, Rowland Payne C . Skin diseases in Ghana and the UK. Int J Dermatol. 2001; 40(5):323-6. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-4362.2001.01229.x. View

Osti M, Sokana O, Phelan S, Marks M, Whitfeld M, Gorae C . Prevalence of scabies and impetigo in the Solomon Islands: a school survey. BMC Infect Dis. 2019; 19(1):803. PMC: 6743115. DOI: 10.1186/s12879-019-4382-8. View

Mera H, Wagnew F, Akelew Y, Hibstu Z, Berihun S, Tamir W . Prevalence and Predictors of Pulmonary Tuberculosis among Prison Inmates in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Tuberc Res Treat. 2023; 2023:6226200. PMC: 10228229. DOI: 10.1155/2023/6226200. View

Romani L, Whitfeld M, Koroivueta J, Kama M, Wand H, Tikoduadua L . Mass Drug Administration for Scabies - 2 Years of Follow-up. N Engl J Med. 2019; 381(2):186-187. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMc1808439. View

10.

. World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki: ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. JAMA. 2013; 310(20):2191-4. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2013.281053. View

11.

Marks M, McVernon J, Engelman D, Kaldor J, Steer A . Insights from mathematical modelling on the proposed WHO 2030 goals for scabies. Gates Open Res. 2019; 3:1542. PMC: 6792349. DOI: 10.12688/gatesopenres.13064.1. View

12.

Kipping R, Scott P, Gray C . Health needs assessment in a male prison in England. Public Health. 2011; 125(4):229-33. DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2011.01.002. View

13.

Romani L, Marks M, Sokana O, Nasi T, Kamoriki B, Cordell B . Efficacy of mass drug administration with ivermectin for control of scabies and impetigo, with coadministration of azithromycin: a single-arm community intervention trial. Lancet Infect Dis. 2019; 19(5):510-518. PMC: 6483975. DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(18)30790-4. View

14.

Majeed A, Mahmood S, Tahir A, Ahmad M, Shabbir M, Ahmad W . Patterns of Common Dermatological Conditions among Children and Adolescents in Pakistan. Medicina (Kaunas). 2023; 59(11). PMC: 10673470. DOI: 10.3390/medicina59111905. View

15.

Andrews R, Kearns T, Connors C, Parker C, Carville K, Currie B . A regional initiative to reduce skin infections amongst aboriginal children living in remote communities of the Northern Territory, Australia. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2009; 3(11):e554. PMC: 2775159. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0000554. View

16.

Wong L, Amega B, Barker R, Connors C, Dulla M, Ninnal A . Factors supporting sustainability of a community-based scabies control program. Australas J Dermatol. 2002; 43(4):274-7. DOI: 10.1046/j.1440-0960.2002.00626.x. View

17.

Bernigaud C, Fang F, Fischer K, Lespine A, Aho L, Dreau D . Preclinical Study of Single-Dose Moxidectin, a New Oral Treatment for Scabies: Efficacy, Safety, and Pharmacokinetics Compared to Two-Dose Ivermectin in a Porcine Model. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2016; 10(10):e0005030. PMC: 5061321. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005030. View

18.

Taplin D, Porcelain S, Meinking T, Athey R, Chen J, Castillero P . Community control of scabies: a model based on use of permethrin cream. Lancet. 1991; 337(8748):1016-8. DOI: 10.1016/0140-6736(91)92669-s. View

19.

Carapetis J, Connors C, Yarmirr D, Krause V, Currie B . Success of a scabies control program in an Australian aboriginal community. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1997; 16(5):494-9. DOI: 10.1097/00006454-199705000-00008. View

20.

Van Hout M, Mhlanga-Gunda R . Prison health situation and health rights of young people incarcerated in sub-Saharan African prisons and detention centres: a scoping review of extant literature. BMC Int Health Hum Rights. 2019; 19(1):17. PMC: 6532240. DOI: 10.1186/s12914-019-0200-z. View