Risk Factors of Anthroponotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Among Residents in Endemic Communities in Southeast of Iran in 2019

In this study, we aimed to identify the risk factors associated with the incidence of A.C.L in three endemic areas of Kerman City. Moreover, the residents’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards A.C.L were assessed.

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 195 residents of three endemic areas in Kerman City involved by A.C.L disease from January to March 2019. The risk factors for A.C.L were recorded using a checklist. Structured questionnaire was administered for data collection. Data were analyzed by ANOVA, correlation analysis, and linear regression via SPSS version 22.

The main risk factors for A.C.L identified in the study areas included construction waste, presence of old and dilapidated houses, poor sanitary conditions, refugee and immigration, as well as the presence of domestic animals in close physical proximity to humans. The response rate of this questionnaire was 100 %. Among the respondents, 41.5 % were males and 58.5 % were females. Majority of the respondents (61%) claimed that they had heard about A.C.L and were familiar with this infectious disease. Only 25%, 66.7%, and 32% of the respondents had good knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards A.C.L, respectively. No significant association was found between the participants’ gender and their levels of knowledge (P = 0.827), attitudes (P = 0.446), and practices (P = 0.603).

The residents of endemic areas had a weak level of knowledge towards A.C.L. So, educational programs should be implemented in order to improve the residents’ knowledge in Kerman City.