Household and Environmental Determinants Influencing Atopic Dermatitis Among Young Rural Children in the Ehlanzeni District Municipality

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD), as well as the determinants that contribute to its development, particularly household and environmental determinants, in young children residing in a rural area in South Africa. There is a lack of scientific evidence regarding the determinants, particularly environmental factors, of AD among children living in rural areas. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the household and environmental determinants influencing atopic dermatitis in young rural children in the Ehlanzeni District Municipality. METHODS: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted, wherein mothers/caregivers and their children were purposefully recruited as participants. Data collection involved the utilization of an adapted version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire (ISAAC), which was then analyzed using Stata MP version 18. RESULT: < 0.001) and current (AOR: 0.261: