Characteristics of each village.

Skin infections cause significant health burden and affect underserved communities such as the indigenous Negrito communities disproportionately. There is only one study that has addressed skin infections among the Negrito communities, which is the smallest and most isolated indigenous tribe in Peninsular Malaysia, with approximately 6,500 individuals remaining in northern and central Peninsular Malaysia. This study, which aims to update the infection patterns of scabies and tinea among the Negrito communities, recruited 361 participants from eight villages representing all six Negrito subtribes. The results revealed an overall skin infection prevalence of 35.6%, with scabies (11.7%), tinea versicolor (11.3%), and tinea imbricata (7.5%) as major infections, with no co-infection. Notably, infection rates were significantly higher in resettled villages (55.2%) compared to inland villages (24.8%). Scabies and tinea versicolor were more prevalent in resettled villages (21.2% and 23.6%, respectively) than inland villages (6.4% and 4.7%, respectively), while tinea imbricata was more common in inland villages (9.4% vs 3.9%). Furthermore, there exist predisposition of scabies among Kensiu. High prevalence of tinea imbricata was observed among the inland Bateq while prevalence of tinea versicolor was high among the resettled Bateq. Risk analysis revealed specific associations: scabies with Kensiu subtribe (P = 0.002), high income (P = 0.001) and underweight individuals (P = 0.009); tinea versicolor with Bateq subtribe (P = 0.003), resettled villagers (P < 0.001), males (P = 0.040), and overweight/obese individuals (P = 0.015); and tinea imbricata with Bateq (P = 0.011) and smokers (P = 0.004). These findings highlight a complex interplay between environment and lifestyle in skin infection prevalence. Addressing these infections requires targeted interventions, including regular medical care in inland villages and socio-economic support for resettled communities, considering the distinct predispositions in different village types.

皮肤感染造成了沉重的健康负担，且对医疗资源匮乏的社区造成不成比例的影响，以马来西亚半岛原住民尼格利陀（Negrito）族群为例，该群体受疾病冲击尤为严重。目前仅有一项研究针对尼格利陀群体展开过皮肤感染相关调查——该族群是马来西亚半岛规模最小、最为偏远的原住民部落，现存约6500人，散居于半岛北部与中部区域。本研究旨在更新尼格利陀群体中疥疮（scabies）与癣类（tinea）感染的流行模式，共招募了代表尼格利陀全部6个亚部落的8个村庄的361名参与者。研究结果显示，整体皮肤感染患病率为35.6%，其中以疥疮（scabies，11.7%）、花斑癣（tinea versicolor，11.3%）以及叠瓦癣（tinea imbricata，7.5%）为主要感染类型，且未观察到合并感染情况。值得注意的是，安置村落的感染率（55.2%）显著高于内陆村落（24.8%）。疥疮与花斑癣在安置村落的患病率（分别为21.2%与23.6%）高于内陆村落（分别为6.4%与4.7%）；而叠瓦癣则在内陆村落更为常见（9.4% vs 3.9%）。此外，肯修（Kensiu）亚部落群体存在疥疮感染的易感倾向。内陆巴泰克（Bateq）群体的叠瓦癣患病率较高，而迁居安置的巴泰克群体花斑癣患病率居高。风险分析揭示了明确的关联：疥疮感染与肯修亚部落（P=0.002）、高收入群体（P=0.001）以及体重偏低个体（P=0.009）存在显著关联；花斑癣感染与巴泰克亚部落（P=0.003）、安置村落居民（P<0.001）、男性群体（P=0.040）以及超重/肥胖个体（P=0.015）显著相关；叠瓦癣感染则与巴泰克群体（P=0.011）以及吸烟者（P=0.004）存在关联。上述研究结果凸显了环境与生活方式之间的复杂交互作用对皮肤感染患病率的影响。针对此类皮肤感染的防控需采取靶向干预措施，考虑到不同村落类型的易感特征差异，应在内陆村落提供常规医疗服务，并为安置村落社区提供社会经济支持。