Yaws is a chronic relapsing disease caused by Treponema pallidum subspecies pertunue, which can result in severe disability and deformities. Children below the age of 15 years in resource-poor communities are the most affected. Several non-specific factors facilitate the continuous transmission and resurgence of the disease. Endemic communities in rural Ghana continue to report cases despite the roll out of several intervention strategies in the past years. The objective of this study was to determine the factors associated with cutaneous ulcers among children in two yaws-endemic districts in Ghana. A community-based unmatched 1:2 case-control study was conducted among children between 1 and 15 years. Data on socio-demographic, environmental and behavioral factors were collected using a structured questionnaire. Active case search and confirmation was done using the Dual Path Platform (DPP) Syphilis Screen and Confirm test kit. Data were analyzed using STATA 15. Logistic regression was done to determine the exposures that were associated with yaws infection at 0.05 significant level. Sixty-two cases and 124 controls were recruited for the study. The adjusted multivariable logistic regression model showed that yaws infection was more likely among individuals who reside in overcrowded compound houses (aOR = 25.42, 95% CI: 6.15–105.09) and with poor handwashing habits (aOR = 6.46, 95% CI: 1.89–22.04). Male (aOR = 4.15, 95% CI: 1.29–13.36) and increasing age (aOR = 5.90, 95% CI: 1.97–17.67) were also associated with yaws infection. Poor personal hygiene, overcrowding and lack of access to improved sanitary facilities are the factors that facilitate the transmission of yaws in the Awutu Senya West and Upper West Akyem districts. Yaws was also more common among males and school-aged children. Improving living conditions, access to good sanitary facilities and encouraging good personal hygiene practices should be core features of eradication programs in endemic communities.

中文翻译：

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加纳两个偏航流行地区儿童皮肤溃疡的相关因素

偏航是由梅毒螺旋体亚种引起的一种慢性复发性疾病，可能导致严重的残疾和畸形。资源贫乏社区中15岁以下的儿童受影响最大。几种非特异性因素促进了疾病的持续传播和复发。尽管过去几年采取了几种干预策略，但加纳农村的地方性社区仍在报告病例。本研究的目的是确定加纳两个偏航流行地区儿童皮肤溃疡的相关因素。在1至15岁的儿童中进行了基于社区的无与伦比的1：2病例对照研究。使用结构化问卷收集了社会人口，环境和行为因素的数据。使用双路径平台（DPP）梅毒筛查和确认测试套件进行了有效的病例搜索和确认。使用STATA 15分析数据。进行逻辑回归分析以确定与偏航感染相关的暴露水平为0.05个显着水平。招募了62个病例和124个对照进行研究。调整后的多因素logistic回归模型显示，居住在人满为患的复合房屋（aOR = 25.42，95％CI：6.15-105.09）和洗手习惯较差（aOR = 6.46，95％CI：1.89–89）的人群中，偏航感染的可能性更高。 22.04）。男性（aOR = 4.15，95％CI：1.29–13.36）和年龄增长（aOR = 5.90，95％CI：1.97–17.67）也与偏航有关。个人卫生差，人满为患和无法获得改善的卫生设施是促使阿乌图塞尼亚西部和上西阿基耶姆地区偏航的因素。偏航在男性和学龄儿童中也更为普遍。改善生活条件，获得良好的卫生设施和鼓励良好的个人卫生习惯，应成为地方性社区根除计划的核心特征。