Assessment of Knowledge and Personal Hygiene Practices Regarding Scabies Among High-risk Students in a Non-formal Education Boarding School.

OBJECTIVE

Scabies is a common skin disease, especially prevalent in densely populated environments such as a boarding school. This study assesses knowledge and practices related to scabies among students in a non-formal education boarding school.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted in a non-formal boarding school Daarul Ishlah in South Jakarta, Indonesia, in December 2023. The population was all male students (127 respondents) who were recruited using consecutive sampling. Data were collected through a semi-structured and self-administered questionnaire to assess students' knowledge and personal hygiene practices. The collected data were analyzed descriptively using SPSS version 20.

RESULTS

The respondents' levels of knowledge were categorized as follows: 59.1% had good knowledge, 34.6% had moderate knowledge, and 6.3% showed poor knowledge. However, their hygiene practices indicated a different trend, with only 22% exhibiting good practices, 72.4% showing moderate practices, and 5.5% demonstrating poor practices. Most respondents (88.2%) were unaware of the etiology of scabies. Regarding personal hygiene practices for preventing scabies, 78% used personal towels, and 74.8% slept on their own mattresses. Yet, only 18.9% maintained the cleanliness of their bed linens.

CONCLUSION

While most respondents demonstrated good knowledge about scabies, their hygiene practices were generally at a moderate level. To address this gap, knowledge and behavior can be enhanced through regular health education, the provision of adequate facilities, and the enforcement of internal regulations to foster better student discipline.