03218nas a2200457   4500000000100000008004100001260002300042653002100065653002000086653001800106653002800124653001100152653001700163653002400180100001300204700001700217700001400234700001200248700002000260700001600280700001600296700001900312700001600331700001600347700001300363700001700376700001200393700001200405700001400417700001800431700001600449700001400465700001100479700001300490245007900503856006100582300001200643490001400655520207700669022001402746       2024                            d  bInforma UK Limited10aGeneral Medicine10aGeneral Nursing10asocial stigma10acutaneous leishmaniasis10aHubuna10aSaudi Arabia10ainfectious diseases1 aElfaki N1 aAlzahrani MJ1 aAbdalla Y1 aAdeh AI1 aOsman Abdalla A1 aAlkhadher M1 aElrefaey SR1 aAbdelmagid WHH1 aAlshameri F1 aJarelnape A1 aHakami M1 aAlghamdi FAA1 aElhaj Y1 aDinar N1 aMohamed A1 aAbdulrahman E1 aMohamed DHM1 aSagiron E1 aAli MH1 aAhmed WA00aPerceived Social Stigma of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Hubuna, Saudi Arabia  uhttps://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.2147/JMDH.S454135  a867-8760 vVolume 173 a<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is a vector-borne skin infection that remains prevalent in regions with poor socioeconomic conditions. Stigmatization occurs when individuals with physical or psychological disorders interact with societal stereotypes. The aim of this study was to explore the perceived social stigma surrounding CL among people residing in Hubuna, Saudi Arabia.</p>

<p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional community-based survey recruited 618 individuals aged 18 years and above using the snowball sampling technique to reach hidden cases within the target population. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire and the Explanatory Model Interview Catalogue for Perceived Social Stigma (EMIC-SS-12) was used to assess the level of perceived social stigma. It includes questions on demographic variables, behaviors, and experiences. The analysis was performed using SPSS.</p>

<p><strong>Results: </strong>The study included 618 participants, the majority of whom were women and girls (54.2%), with a mean age of 28 ± 12.7 years. The median score for perceived social stigma was 26.0. Only 2.1% (n = 13) of participants had the highest EMIC-SS-12 score of 36, while 7.6% (n = 47) scored zero. The mean score for overall perceived social stigma was 1.89 ± 0.91, while the mean score for experienced stigma was 1.99 ± 1.02. Univariate analysis showed that sex, employment, location of lesions, and number of lesions were insignificantly associated with stigmatization (P-value &lt; 0.05), because these associations were uncertain because the CI includes or very close to 1.</p>

<p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> The study reveals insights into stigmatization associated with CL in the Habuna area of Saudi Arabia. It found that the median of perceived social stigma was 26. Factors such as sex, employment status, and location of the lesion are uncertainly associated with stigma. It is crucial to explore negative behaviors and perceptions and develop suitable health education programs.</p>
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