Determinants of cutaneous leishmaniasis among students in Delanta district, Northeast Ethiopia: A case–control study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is the most common form of leishmaniasis that causes skin lesions on exposed parts of the body. It is endemic in over 170 districts and highly prevalent in the northern and southern parts of Ethiopia. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the determinants of CL among students of Wegeltena secondary school in Delanta district, Northeast Ethiopia. METHODS: This unmatched case–control study was conducted from January 4 to 20, 2021 at Wegeltena secondary school. Cases were students who had an active lesion of CL and controls were students who had never been infected with CL (no active lesions). A simple random sampling technique was utilized to select participants in the control group. Data were collected by using a pretested, interviewer‐administered structured questionnaire. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed and variables were declared determinants of CL at a p value of <0.05. RESULTS: A total of 225 students (58 cases and 167 controls) participated in the study. The mean age of cases and controls was 18.6 (SD ± 0.99 years) and 18.5 years (SD ± 1.17 years), respectively. In this study, 74.1% of cases and 51.5% of controls have been living in rural areas. Furthermore, being male (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 4.11; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.94–8.69), rural residents (AOR = 2.95; 95% CI: 1.33–6.52), living in areas where caves (AOR = 3.63; 95% CI: 1.24–10.59), nearby forest (AOR = 4.04; 95% CI: 1.42–11.51), and hyrax available (AOR = 2.43; 95% CI: 1.16–5.08) were significantly associated with CL. CONCLUSION: In our study, sociodemographic and environmental factors were found to be determinants of CL. Therefore, reducing outdoor activities, wearing protective clothes, use of insecticide‐treated nets, and destruction of sand fly breeding sites shall be implemented targeting the rural population that resides in areas where forests, caves, and hyraxes are prominent.