PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF ACNE VULGARIS AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Background: Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the pilosebaceous gland with a high
prevalence in adolescents, associated with complications including psychosocial impact. There is a paucity of
studies on acne prevalence in urban versus rural areas in Southeastern Nigeria, and even fewer studies on
how acne triggers vary between these contrasting environments. This knowledge gap underscores the
importance of conducting the present study.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of acne vulgaris in urban versus rural secondary school students in
Ebonyi and identify its risk factors.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in four secondary schools (two urban and two rural) and
five hundred (500) participants across Ebonyi State. Pre-tested, structured interviewer-administered
Questionnaires were used to collect data, and acne severity was measured clinically using the Global Acne
Grading System. (GAGS). Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS)
version 22.

Results: The overall prevalence of acne vulgaris was 67.9%, with a female-to-male ratio of 1.4:1. It was
higher in rural participants (79.4%) than in urban participants (59.4%). It had a significantly earlier age of onset
(13.24±1.52 years) in urban than in rural participants (13.88±1.70 years), p<0.05. Males had higher odds of
developing severe acne (urban OR = 0.14, p = 0.015; rural OR = 0.76, p = 0.73) than females. Other factors
positively associated with acne severity in the participants included age (urban OR=0.75, P=1.07 vs rural
OR=0.17, P=1.49), milk intake (urban p=0.69, rural=1.00), family history, and body weight; however, these did
not reach statistical significance.

Conclusion: Acne vulgaris is more prevalent among rural than urban secondary school students in Ebonyi
State. Several potential risk factors were identified, though most were not statistically significant. Targeted
preventive measures are recommended for both urban and rural adolescents.
Keywords: acne vulgaris, prevalence, adolescents, risk factors, Nigeria