Aims: Buruli ulcer is a chronic debilitating skin disease believed to be caused by an environmental bacterium – Mycobacterium ulcerans. Its mode of transmission is still elusive. Buruli ulcer can cause permanent disability and deformity which may severely limit a person’s ability to carry out normal daily activities. The associated stigma may greatly restrict the social participation by affected persons. Though early detection and adequate medical and surgical treatment can minimize future disability and complication, recognizing the risk factors of this disease can lead to adoption of appropriate preventive strategies.
Methods: A case-control study of 120 patients (40 cases and 80 matched controls) was undertaken in a referral mission hospital. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from subjects. The folders of case subjects were also reviewed. Results: Significantly higher proportion of Buruli ulcer cases were males when compared to the control group (x2 = 3.84 p = 0.05, OR = 2.22). Poor education (x2 14.27, p=0.0003 and OR 5.13), visit to water bodies (x2 = 67.78, p=0.00000 and OR = 63), No BCG vaccination (x2 = 6.79, p=0.01 and OR = 2.79), pet in the house (x2 = 9.25, p=0.002 and OR = 3.55), poor drinking water source (x2 = 45.32, p=0.00000 and OR = 19.52), no preventive measure (x2 = 18.3, p=0.0005 and OR = 6.27) were significantly associated with Buruli ulcer.
Conclusion: This study identified, regular visit to water bodies, male gender, poor education, lack of Bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG) vaccination and poor drinking water source as risk factors for Buruli ulcer, in the face of apparent lack of awareness of disease and its risk factors among the subjects. Aggressive public enlightenment is recommended to hopefully reduce the prevalence of Buruli ulcer disease.