Prevalence of skin infection among street children in Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Mahuya Majumder; Sarmistha Chakrabarti; Suniti Ghosh (chatterjee)

Volume : VI, Issue : II, February - 2017

Prevalence of skin infection among street children in Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Mahuya Majumder, Sarmistha Chakrabarti, Suniti Ghosh Chatterjee

Abstract :

Street children are considered to be a high risk group for infectious diseases especially skin infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the skin health status of children aged from 3 to 18 years living in Kolkata metropolitan city and assessment of their hygiene practices. A cross sectional study was conducted on 540 street children aged from 3 to 18 years in different 10 zones in Kolkata. Skin infection prevalence was 56.66%. Health consciousness and food intake had great influence on their skin health status.(p=0.000). Skin health status of the examined street children was quite poor. Reasons for such findings can be lack of awareness regarding infection problems, financial constraints to afford hygiene aids, timely health check up, substance abuse and also lack of nutrient like vitamin and protein.