Factors associated with pediculosis pubis and scabies.

OBJECTIVE

To ascertain factors associated with genital pediculosis and scabies infestations among attenders at an STD clinic.

DESIGN

Cross sectional assessment of potential risk factors by multiple logistic regression.

SETTING

A central city sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clinic in Adelaide, South Australia.

SUBJECTS: All men and women patients attending from 1988 to 1991.

RESULTS

Pediculosis pubis was diagnosed in 205 of 12,170 (1.7%) men and 65 (1.1%) of 6125 women, and scabies in 56 (0.5%) men and 6 (0.1%) women attending an STD clinic from 1988-1991. Independent risk factors by multivariate analysis for pediculosis pubis in women were pregnancy (odds ratio (OR) = 2.3), sex outside the state (OR = 2.2) and age under 25 (OR = 2.0). Many factors were associated with pediculosis pubis in men, including no steady partner (OR = 1.4), multiple partners (OR = 1.6), being unmarried (OR = 2.0) and homosexual behaviour (OR = 1.6). None of these factors was associated with scabies infestation which was strongly associated with being Aboriginal (OR = 6.8) and being unemployed (OR = 2.5).

CONCLUSION

In this setting scabies appears to be determined by socioeconomic factors and pediculosis pubis predominantly by sexual activity factors.