{
  "abstract": "Introduction: Scabies is under-detected in rural Tanzania because routine surveillance primarily captures people presenting to health facilities. After a community scabies event in Nyasa District in September 2022, community-based digital surveillance using AfyaData was implemented in selected villages in 2024. This study described household-level scabies-compatible presentations detected through the approach. Methods: Eight community health workers screened households in eight villages across four wards from July to October 2024 using a structured Kiswahili questionnaire on AfyaData. Households reporting compatible presentations provided information on symptoms, affected persons, household size, recent treatment, and livestock keeping. We assessed associations using chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests with Benjamini-Hochberg adjustment. Generalised estimating equations with village as the clustering unit estimated adjusted odds ratios for within-household clustering. Results: Of 665 submissions, 663 were analysed; 309 households (46.6%) reported a compatible presentation, but village proportions ranged from 13.1% to 100%, and one village supplied 40.3% of all records; excluding it raised the overall figure to 69.2%. Because one worker covered one village, these differences cannot be separated from worker practice. Household size predicted clustering (adjusted odds ratio 1.35 per additional member, 95%CI: 1.06 – 1.71, p = 0.016) and held across every sensitivity analysis. The crude association with livestock keeping did not survive adjustment. A recently treated member was present in 152 affected households (49.2%). Conclusion: These findings do not support estimation of district-level scabies prevalence because screening coverage and reporting varied between villages. Household size was associated with within-household clustering. Recently treated members in approximately half of affected households highlight the need to assess and manage household contacts. Further studies should evaluate household-based approaches to scabies detection and treatment.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania",
    "SACIDS Foundation for One Health (SACIDS), Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania",
    "National Institute for Medical Research, Amani Medical Research Centre, Muheza, Tanzania",
    "Ministry of Health, Zanzibar; Dermatology Unit, Mnazi Mmoja Hospital, Zanzibar, Tanzania"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Ibrahim Twahir Kilagwa",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-4715-2426"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Renfrid Ngolongolo Wiliam"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Mpoki Mwabukusi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Victor Saturnus Mwingira"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Hafidh Sheha Hassan"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Athumani Msalale Lupindu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Sharadhuli Iddi Kimera"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4gzrmr1g3s048.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.37432/jieph-d-26-00041",
  "fulltext_url": "https://afenet-journal.org/10-37432-jieph-d-26-00041/",
  "id": "4gzrmr1g3s048",
  "issns": [
    "2664-2824"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.37432/jieph-d-26-00041",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "lcc",
      "R"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-01",
  "publisher": "African Field Epidemiology Network",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4gzrmr1g3s048.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-31T14:23:00Z",
      "native_id": "4a8ba7cba4b44fa4a16d3b0933f9a6a4",
      "source": "doaj",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.37432/jieph-d-26-00041"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "lcc:R",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Community-based digital surveillance for scabies-compatible presentations in Nyasa District, Tanzania: A cross-sectional household screening study",
  "title_text": "Community-based digital surveillance for scabies-compatible presentations in Nyasa District, Tanzania: A cross-sectional household screening study",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-31T14:23:00Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4gzrmr1g3s048",
  "venue": "Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health",
  "versions": []
}