Prevalence and risk factors for skin diseases among Philippine national police personnels’ in camp Crame, Quezon City, Philippines

20^th World Dermatology Congress

March 13-14, 2019 Singapore

Abigael T Villanueva, Gracia B Teodosio FPDS, Ma Teresita G Gabriel FPDS, Alexander R Castillo, Gisella U Adasa, Kristy Elleza R Evangelista and Pauline Consuelo R Velasco

Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Philippines
Philippine National Police, Health Service, Philippines

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Dermatol Dis

Abstract :

Background: Philippine National Police (PNP), as the premier law enforcing agency is at the forefront in ensuring internal peace and order in the country. For the first time in the country, a baseline study on the prevalence and risk factors for common skin diseases among Philippine National Police personnel was conducted on the National Headquarters of the PNP from March 1 to August 31, 2016. Significance of the Study: Skin disease is an important health concern which is often overlooked but may impact work performance of the PNP and in a larger scale, affect national security. To date, no published study has been tracked to investigate skin diseases in the PNP. This research is the first step in addressing the common skin diseases among PNP. It aims to determine the prevalence and risk factors of common skin diseases among PNP officers. Better understanding of this is necessary to develop interventions for prevention and providing focused dermatologic health care services to the PNP.

Objectives Of The Study: This pioneering study sought to determine the prevalence and specific types of skin diseases and their associated risk factors among police officers in Camp Crame, Quezon City, Philippines. To develop effective treatment plans and preventive measures for common skin diseases among PNP personnel. To have cost effective treatment for common skin diseases among PNP personnel. Materials and methods: Using a cross-sectional analytic study design, data were obtained from 384 randomly selected participants through self-administered questionnaires and skin examination performed by qualified dermatologists.

Results: Out of the 384 uniformed PNP personnel who participated in this study, 307 were found to have at least one skin disease thus resulting to skin disease prevalence of 80%. Among the general types of skin disease, dermatitis and eczemas ranked first with an estimated prevalence of 29.7% followed by pigmentary disorder (19.0%) and disorder of the skin appendage (17.2%). Among the specific types of skin disease, the most prevalent are melasma, acne and verruca plana (17.4%, 14.6% and 8.9%, respectively). Age, gender, position and years of service in the PNP, place of residence and work, and hygienic practices were found to be associated with various skin diseases. The prevalence of skin disease was found to increase significantly with the number of personal items shared with others. Lower composite hygiene score was associated with having at least one (noncommunicable) skin disease.

Conclusion: Cutaneous diseases in police troops have been recognized as a significant cause of morbidity. In our study, eczemas, acne, fungal infection and verruca showed highly in prevalence in the police force. These diseases are not life threatening and incapacitating, however they may severely affect the daily activities and performance of the police troops. The knowledge of the spectrum of dermatologic diseases in police troops serves as an important planning guidance in the appropriate medical diagnosis management of skin diseases. Proper management of the skin disease would therefore influence significantly the quality of the lives of the police troops in the combative environment and in the barracks. In addition, intensive information campaign on its existence in the police troop, provision of protective garments, maintenance of cleanliness in the communal home and personal hygiene should be properly addressed.

Biography :

Abigael T Villanueva is currently affiliated at VTEC Dermatology, Laser & Facial Center, Santolan, Quezon City, Philippines. She is the Member of International Society of Dermatology (ISD), Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS), Philippine Medical Association (PMA), Philippine College of Hospital Administrators (PCHA), Philippine College of Occupational Medicine (PCOM), Quezon City Medical Society (QCMC) & PNP Medical Society.

E-mail: iamabbey2000@yahoo.com