Prevailing Misconceptions of Vitiligo among Saudi School Children

Sharaf, Fawzy

doi:10.12816/0006069

Cited by 11 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…ere are many misconceptions related to vitiligo, which vary from one area of the world to another. e common misconceptions are that the disease is contagious, is nontreatable, is related to a specific kind of food/drinks, is a form of leprosy, is always hereditary, and may lead to skin cancers [13]. In Africa, social, religious, and tribal factors play a significant role in stigmatization.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Public Knowledge and Attitudes towards Vitiligo: A Survey in Mekelle City, Northern Ethiopia

Teklemedhin

Atey

Gidey

et al. 2020

Dermatology Research and Practice

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Background. The overall well-being, sense of stigmatization, and treatment outcome of persons with vitiligo are largely dependent on their social acceptance and this is linked with perception and attitude of this disease in a given population. Therefore, this study assessed the knowledge and attitude of the public towards vitiligo. Methods. A cross-sectional survey was carried out using a self-reported questionnaire distributed to adults living in Mekelle city, Northern Ethiopia from August to November 2019. Individuals who were 18 to 65 years of age and not suffering from vitiligo were included in the study. A self-administered questionnaire that contains a demographic, knowledge, and attitudes parts was used to collect data. Data were entered using Epi Data® version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS® version 21. Results. Of the total 368 subjects, 300 completed the questionnaires giving 81.5% response rate. The mean age was 30 ± 8.3 years and the male-to-female ratio was 1.14 : 1. Friends or families were reported as the most common source of information (70%) about vitiligo. The overall vitiligo knowledge was sufficient in 68.3% of the participants. Higher vitiligo-related knowledge scores were recorded by people older than 30 and below 50, those of secondary school graduated or more, urban-dwellers, persons who had heard about vitiligo, and persons having families or friends affected by vitiligo. Attitudes towards vitiligo were positive in 43.3% of participants. This was more prevalent among employed persons, those of secondary school graduated or more, and persons having families or friends affected by vitiligo. Moreover, sufficient knowledge was significantly related to positive attitudes towards the disease (p<0.0001). Conclusion. Even though the majority of the respondents had sufficient knowledge, we still found misconceptions and negative attitudes towards vitiligo. Therefore, it is still crucial to educate the public about vitiligo to ultimately improve the well-being of patients with vitiligo.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Public Knowledge and Attitudes towards Vitiligo: A Survey in Mekelle City, Northern Ethiopia

Teklemedhin

Atey

Gidey

et al. 2020

Dermatology Research and Practice

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“…Many studies have shown that there is a difference between perception of vitiligo among the general population and those who are diseased, and many have emphas affected individuals have higher levels of Many studies have shown that there is a difference between perception of vitiligo among the general population and those who are diseased, and many have emphasized that affected individuals have higher levels of knowledge, from which the doctors where the source of information. [12,15,16].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The common misconceptions regarding the cause are as follow; infections, inheritance, exposure to chemicals, nutrients deficiency and consumption of the milk. Other myths include that the disease is untreatable, precancerous, or exaggerated by the sun [13,[16][17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalent Beliefs and Attitude toward Vitiligo among Public in Al Baha Province, Southern Saudi Arabia

Ghamdi¹,

Al-Zahrani²,

Alsohaimi³

et al. 2020

JAMMR

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Introduction: Vitiligo is an apparent skin condition that has a psychological impact on the affected individuals and their families. Its prevalence is estimated to be about (0.5-2%) globally. Misunderstandings, and negative attitudes toward vitiligo patients are the most important factors affecting the quality of life of vitiligo patients. Objective: The objective of this study was to identify the common misconceptions and attitudes about the nature, causes and prognosis of vitiligo in Al-Baha region, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross sectional study collected data from the general population in the public malls in Al-Baha region, Saudi Arabia. We used a questionnaire which was developed by the authors, the questionnaire included questions regarding vitiligo cause, nature, prognosis and the attitude toward vitiligo. Results: A total of (453) responses were analysed, of which (53%) were females, and (90.9%) were Saudis. The participants’ ages ranged from (16 -64) with a mean of (28.3). The majority of our sample had a high level of education; university (65.1%), High school (26%) and less than high school (6%). Our population believed that gecko and its saliva were the commonest cause (38.1%). Most of the respondents (44.4%) thought that the condition is exaggerated by stress and anxiety. Regarding attitude; (31.5%) are unwilling to marry a vitiligo patient. Conclusion: The results of the present study show that the misconceptions and attitudes toward vitiligo are prevalent. Health awareness campaigns should be implanted to educate the people and improve the quality of life of the affected individuals.

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“…In a study surveying school children in Saudi Arabia with and without vitiligo, the cultural beliefs of eating certain foods and vitamin deficiencies in relation to causing vitiligo were studied. Even if the students were affected with vitiligo, the schoolchildren all shared local myths that certain foods (fish and milk) or dietary deficiencies could cause the disease [101]. In some Indian communities, this disease is associated with negative religious beliefs.…”

Section: Psychosocial Impactmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of the Most Common Dermatologic Conditions and their Debilitating Psychosocial Impacts

Mian¹,

Silfvast‐Kaiser²,

Paek³

et al. 2019

Int Arch Intern Med

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The majority of skin conditions are not life-threatening; however, many can be severe and disfiguring enough to devastate a patient's quality of life. Skin diseases can significantly impact not only a patient's physical appearance, but also their social and emotional well-being. Even the smallest skin lesions have been shown to disrupt a person's level of overall wellness. Here, we aim to address the potential psychological and emotional impact of the most common and debilitating dermatologic conditions. We describe how skin disorders affect individuals and subsequently, how they are perceived by society. In addition, we review several dermatologic conditions that are not only skin-related, but are also linked to disorders of internal organs. Lastly, we weigh the importance of skin health and how clear skin not only increases an individual's satisfaction and quality of life, but also impacts their ability to reach their full potential.

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Prevailing Misconceptions of Vitiligo among Saudi School Children

Cited by 11 publications

References 5 publications

Public Knowledge and Attitudes towards Vitiligo: A Survey in Mekelle City, Northern Ethiopia

Public Knowledge and Attitudes towards Vitiligo: A Survey in Mekelle City, Northern Ethiopia

Prevalent Beliefs and Attitude toward Vitiligo among Public in Al Baha Province, Southern Saudi Arabia

A Review of the Most Common Dermatologic Conditions and their Debilitating Psychosocial Impacts

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