Assessing the health-related quality of life of cutaneous Leishmaniasis patients in Draa-Tafilalet, southeastern Morocco.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a significant public health concern globally. This study aims to evaluate the impact of cutaneous leishmaniasis on the quality of life of patients in the Draa-Tafilalet region of Morocco. In this cross-sectional study, data were collected from 87 patients between December 2022 and July 2023 using the Skindex-16 questionnaire. The results revealed that cutaneous leishmaniasis has a mild to moderate impact on health-related quality of life, with 26.4 % of participants reporting a low impact and 73.6 % reporting a moderate impact. A significant gender difference was observed in Skindex-16 scores, with moderate impact being more prevalent among females (60.90 % vs. 30.10 %, p = 0.002). Furthermore, facial lesions were associated with a statistically significant reduction in quality of life, particularly in the emotional (p < 0.001) and functioning (p = 0.01) domains. These findings highlight the need for targeted management strategies that address the substantial impact of cutaneous leishmaniasis on patients' quality of life. Future studies with larger sample sizes and extended follow-up periods are warranted to further elucidate the effects of cutaneous leishmaniasis on patients' well-being.

Assessment of knowledge about first aid methods, diagnosis, and treatment of scorpion stings among health workers in Ouarzazate region, Morocco: A cross-sectional study.

Scorpion envenomation (SE) is a critical and immediate medical emergency. It represents a major public health concern with significant cause of illness and death, particularly in rural regions where scorpions are more prevalent. Of note, administering appropriate first aid to scorpion sting victims is one of the most effective ways to reduce mortality. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the level of knowledge of the healthcare workers in managing such cases. This work aims to assess the levels of knowledge on the diagnosis and management of scorpion stings, as well as the attitudes toward scorpion stings, among doctors and nurses in the Ouarzazate region of Morocco. Our results showed that the prevalent health care age group is 30-39 years, and in terms of experience, the majority had less than 5 years. Additionally, the majority of the participants had no knowledge regarding scorpions' identification. Moreover, only half participants (healthcare workers) received basic training in the management of scorpion stings and almost all of them have not benefited from continuing training. Hence, the current study showed that the understanding of scorpion sting management among healthcare providers in Ouarzazate province is inadequate to ensure proper care for sting patients, and thus including scorpion sting management in the university programs of health care provides along with clinical practice are highly required.