Pattern of Skin Diseases and Treatment-Seeking Behaviour in Tribal Villages of Rangamati Sadar: A Teledermatology Approach

Background: As dermatologic care is largely based on visual cues, teledermatology has emerged as a potential solution to improve access to care while maintaining clinical efficacy. The study aimed to understand the magnitude of skin diseases and related treatment-seeking behaviour in tribal villages of Rangamati Sadar, Rangamati of Chittagong Hill Tracts using a simple “Store and Forward” technique of teledermatology. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in five randomly selected villages of Rangamati Sadar, Rangamati district of Bangladesh, during June–August 2023. Images of skin conditions were captured on smartphones by trained surveyors. Deidentified images were transferred over WhatsApp to the principal investigator, who formulated diagnosis and treatment in real-time and sent them via WhatsApp to surveyors. Subsequently, the patient was examined face-to-face by a dermatologist at Rangamati General Hospital. The diagnoses formulated during teledermatology and face-to-face consultations were analyzed and compared. Results: A total of 200 participants consented. Among them, 107 (53.5%) were identified with suspected skin diseases and consented to photograph. The treatment-seeking behaviour and compliance with treatment were poor. Tinea infections were the most frequent skin disease present in 21 (19.6%) of the participants, followed by acne (15%), scabies (14%), eczema (14%), atopic dermatitis (9.3%), skin and soft tissue infection (9.3%), Seborrhoeic dermatitis (6.5%). There was a 93.5% concordance between the diagnoses of skin diseases by mobile teledermatology and face-to-face consultation (Cohen K coefficient 0.89). More than 75% of the photos were of excellent to good quality. Conclusions: Skin diseases were highly prevalent among tribal people, and the pattern was similar to that of the country’s other populations. Mobile teledermatology using smartphones is a reliable, useful, and cost-effective method of providing expertise for improving dermatologic care for the needy population in rural and remote areas of Bangladesh IAHS Medical Journal Vol 9(1), June 2026;73-78