Prevalence and Risk Factors for Cutaneous Mycoses among Boarding Secondary Schools Students in Coast Region, Tanzania

Aims: To determines the prevalence and risk factors for cutaneous mycoses (CMs) among boarding secondary schools’ students in Coast Region, Tanzania

Study Design: It was a cross-sectional survey-based study involving boarding secondary schools’ students. Cluster sampling technique was employed for data collection using semi-structured questionnaire.

Place and Duration of Study: It involved students from both government and private boarding secondary schools in a period between January and June 2020.

Methodology: The study involved 320 students (equal number of females and males). The questionnaire inquired on these key issues: contraction of CMs and/or other skin related infections, and risk factors associated with CMs, previous exposure to antifungal agents, reasons for the use, duration of use and its outcome. Obtained information was analyzed using the SPSS version 20. Multivariate and logistic regression were employed to determine association among investigated variables. Differences among the variables were considered statistically significant when p<0.05.

Results: Prevalence of CMs among the students was 61.5% (n = 197/320). Higher proportion of students in government schools had CMs as compared to private ones (35.9% vs. 25.6%; p <0.01). The former schools were twice more likely to contract CMs (OR = 2.43, 95%CI: 1.53-3.86, p <0.01) than those in private schools. Correlations existed between students’ ages and recurrence of CMs (Pearson’s R = 0.044; p<0.01); and between students’ bodyweights and prevalence of CMs (R= 0.139; p = 0.02). Association existed between non-adherence to antifungal treatment and prevalence of CMs (p = 0.001).

Conclusion: High prevalence of CMs was revealed among students, which was relatively higher among males than females. Risk factors for CMs included poor personal hygiene and sanitary conditions, students’ ages and bodyweights. Education on risk factors for CMs among the respondents is required for earlier, prevention and control. Further studies involving larger samples size are highly recommended.