International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases · 2026
Prevalence and risk factors of scabies in children and adolescents in Africa: a systematic review with meta-analysis.
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Ahmed Zunaid, Ismail Kaashifah, Visser Willem Izak
Аннотация
OBJECTIVES: Scabies has been identified as a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization. Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to scabies and its complications. Although scabies is estimated to affect approximately 204 million people worldwide, the prevalence of scabies in Africa is uncertain. Risk factors for scabies are also poorly characterized. This study aimed to comprehensively summarize the available data on the prevalence and risk factors of scabies in children and adolescents in Africa. This is necessary to inform future public health strategies aimed at reducing the burden of disease due to scabies on the African continent.
METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, African Index Medicus, and African Journals Online were searched to identify all published studies providing relevant data from January 1, 2000, until August 9, 2025. Given the expected heterogeneity between studies, a random-effects meta-analysis method was used to pool estimates.
RESULTS: A total of 35 studies were included, with a total population size of 45,425. The pooled prevalence of scabies was 5.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.6-8.2) from all included studies and 9.4% (95% CI: 6.5-12.8) from studies that focused on scabies (not covering other skin diseases). The pooled prevalence was highest in Eastern Africa (7.4%) and lowest in Northern Africa (3.2%); higher in the community (12.8%) than at schools (4.2%); lower when diagnosis was made by dermatologists (4.2%) compared to non-dermatologists (8.8%); and higher when the diagnosis of scabies was made on clinical features (6.8%) than when clinical features were coupled with microscopy (2.9%). Associated factors and possibly risk factors for scabies included factors relating to poverty, such as a family size of five or more (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.10, 95% CI: 1.61-2.74); a rural setting (aOR 3.13, 95% CI: 1.75-5.56); the absence of detergent for bodily cleansing (aOR 3.32, 95% CI: 2.34-4.72); sleeping on the floor (aOR 3.55, 95% CI: 1.84-6.87); and sharing bedding or clothes (aOR 2.47, 95% CI: 1.65-3.68).
CONCLUSION: This study shows a high prevalence of scabies, with variation in prevalence depending on geographic region, study setting and population, and case ascertainment. Furthermore, associated factors for scabies in the African setting were identified. The high heterogeneity of prevalence findings and lack of robust South African studies highlight potential areas of future research. The findings of this systematic review should be considered when designing future epidemiological studies and public health strategies aimed at reducing the burden of disease due to scabies in Africa.
METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, African Index Medicus, and African Journals Online were searched to identify all published studies providing relevant data from January 1, 2000, until August 9, 2025. Given the expected heterogeneity between studies, a random-effects meta-analysis method was used to pool estimates.
RESULTS: A total of 35 studies were included, with a total population size of 45,425. The pooled prevalence of scabies was 5.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.6-8.2) from all included studies and 9.4% (95% CI: 6.5-12.8) from studies that focused on scabies (not covering other skin diseases). The pooled prevalence was highest in Eastern Africa (7.4%) and lowest in Northern Africa (3.2%); higher in the community (12.8%) than at schools (4.2%); lower when diagnosis was made by dermatologists (4.2%) compared to non-dermatologists (8.8%); and higher when the diagnosis of scabies was made on clinical features (6.8%) than when clinical features were coupled with microscopy (2.9%). Associated factors and possibly risk factors for scabies included factors relating to poverty, such as a family size of five or more (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.10, 95% CI: 1.61-2.74); a rural setting (aOR 3.13, 95% CI: 1.75-5.56); the absence of detergent for bodily cleansing (aOR 3.32, 95% CI: 2.34-4.72); sleeping on the floor (aOR 3.55, 95% CI: 1.84-6.87); and sharing bedding or clothes (aOR 2.47, 95% CI: 1.65-3.68).
CONCLUSION: This study shows a high prevalence of scabies, with variation in prevalence depending on geographic region, study setting and population, and case ascertainment. Furthermore, associated factors for scabies in the African setting were identified. The high heterogeneity of prevalence findings and lack of robust South African studies highlight potential areas of future research. The findings of this systematic review should be considered when designing future epidemiological studies and public health strategies aimed at reducing the burden of disease due to scabies in Africa.