title: Prevalences of scabies and pediculosis corporis among homeless people in the Paris region: results from two randomized cross-sectional surveys (HYTPEAC study).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dermatological infections constitute the most common health problem in the homeless population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalences of scabies and pediculosis corporis and to identify associated factors in the homeless population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two randomized cross-sectional surveys were performed, one on the homeless population sleeping in public places in Paris, and the other on the homeless population in various shelters in the Ile-de-France administrative region. Overall 341 and 667 people, respectively, were interviewed about sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle and hygiene practices, and were examined by a nurse.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In individuals sleeping in public places the prevalence of scabies was estimated at 6·5% [95% confidence interval (CI) 0·5-12·5] and for pediculosis corporis at 5·4% (95% CI 1·7-9·1). For those sleeping in shelters these values were 0·4% (95% CI 0·1-1·8) and 0·15% (95% CI 0·0-9·7), respectively (P < 0·01 in both cases). In public places, after multivariate analysis, being a woman, citing squats among the three main types of accommodation and not possessing a sleeping bag were significantly associated with diagnosis of scabies. Likewise, begging, a history of pubic lice, and not taking showers in municipal baths were associated with pediculosis corporis in public places.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Firstly, this study highlights the real existence of two distinct subpopulations having different sociodemographic characteristics, with specific lifestyles and practices, and with different prevalences of ectoparasitism. Secondly, the results of the multivariate analyses will help the implementation of specific actions targeting the group of people who sleep in public places.
authors.affiliation: Observatoire du Samusocial de Paris, 35 Avenue Courteline, 75012, Paris, France.|French Institute for Public Health Surveillance, Saint-Maurice, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arnaud
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, AP-HP, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Créteil, France.|Université Paris-Est Créteil Val de Marne (UPEC), Créteil, France.|CIC INSERM 1430 and EA EpiDermE (Epidemiology in Dermatology and Evaluation of Therapeutics), Créteil, France.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Chosidow
authors.affiliation: Observatoire du Samusocial de Paris, 35 Avenue Courteline, 75012, Paris, France.
authors.forename: M-A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Détrez
authors.affiliation: French Institute for Public Health Surveillance, Saint-Maurice, France.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bitar
authors.affiliation: Observatoire du Samusocial de Paris, 35 Avenue Courteline, 75012, Paris, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, AP-HP, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Créteil, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Foulet
authors.affiliation: French Institute for Public Health Surveillance, Saint-Maurice, France.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Le Strat
authors.affiliation: Observatoire du Samusocial de Paris, 35 Avenue Courteline, 75012, Paris, France.|French Institute for Public Health Surveillance, Saint-Maurice, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vandentorren
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D010373:Lice Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D010297:Paris / Q000453:epidemiology; D010374:Pediculus; D015995:Prevalence; D012532:Scabies / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012536:Scalp Dermatoses / Q000453:epidemiology