title: A population-based prevalence survey of skin diseases in adolescents and adults in rural Sumatra, Indonesia, 1999.
abstract: Skin disorders are one of the most common presenting health problems and pose a considerable public health problem in developing and developed countries. A population-based survey (n = 917) was conducted in October and November 1999 to determine the prevalence of skin diseases in 3 rural villages in Indonesia (Riau province, Sumatra). The overall individual response rate was 96%. Household interviews were conducted to obtain information on skin conditions, basic socio-demographic factors and lifestyle habits. Trained doctors performed a thorough clinical skin examination of each subject in the household. The overall prevalence of skin disease in the 3 villages was 28.2% (95% confidence intervals 24.6-31.8). The prevalence of fungal infections (12.0%) was twice as high as dermatitis (5.1%). As skin conditions are common in rural Indonesia, it is advisable to improve the training of nurses and doctors in the prevention and treatment of skin disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community, Occupational and Family Medicine, National University of Singapore (MD3), 16 Medical Drive, Singapore 117597, Republic of Singapore.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Saw
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Adjani
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Chia
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Munoz
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Ong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007214:Indonesia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012423:Rural Health; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology; D017193:Skin Diseases, Viral / Q000453:epidemiology