Evaluation of the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices toward Scabies among Hopsotial Outpatients in Jalalabad City, Afghanistan

Background: Scabies is widespread skin disease in tropical and subtropical areas and is particularly prevalent in developing regions with low socioeconomic conditions. Scabies can be effectively prevented with proper education. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the level of knowledge, attitude, and practices toward scabies among hospital outpatients in Jalalabad City, Afghanistan. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 442 individuals who visited the adult outpatient departments (OPD) at public and private health facilities for various health services from August 1 to November 15, 2023. A non-probability convenience sampling technique was used to select study participants, and data was collected through structured questionnaires. The data was then analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 27. Findings: In this study, a total of 442 participants were enrolled; 67.6% of them were male and 32.4% were female. Regarding knowledge, half of the participants had heard about scabies, and more than 70% were aware of its signs and symptoms. The majority of respondents (52%) had a moderate level of knowledge about scabies, while 24% had poor knowledge and 24% had good knowledge. The respondents’ attitudes were generally good and their practices were moderate. The study showed a statistically significant relationship between the knowledge score and demographic variables, such as gender, educational level, and family income. Conclusion: The study concluded that, overall, participants reported moderate knowledge of scabies. Additionally, the respondent’s knowledge about scabies is somewhat influenced by their demographic factors. Thus, there is a need for enhanced health education, awareness initiatives, and preventive programs to improve community knowledge and support the implementation of effective prevention measures.