Ethnic Differences in Skin Complaints in Oslo
Author Information
Author(s): Florence Dalgard, Jan Øivind Holm, Åke Svensson, Bernadette Kumar, Johanne Sundby
Primary Institution: Institute of General Practice and Community Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway
Hypothesis
Are there ethnic differences in self-reported skin morbidity among adults in an urban Norwegian community?
Conclusion
The study showed that there were significant differences in self-reported skin complaints among ethnic groups.
Supporting Evidence
- Itch was reported by 18% of men from East Asia and 13% from the Middle East/North Africa.
- Hair loss was reported by 23% of men from the Indian Subcontinent and 25% from the Middle East/North Africa.
- Women from Sub-Saharan Africa reported significantly more pimples than other groups.
Takeaway
Different ethnic groups in Oslo report different skin problems, like itchiness and hair loss, which might be linked to their backgrounds.
Methodology
Cross-sectional study using a postal questionnaire to gather data on skin complaints and socio-demographic factors.
Potential Biases
Self-selection according to socio-demographic variables may have impacted prevalence estimates.
Limitations
The questionnaire was not specifically designed for ethnic minorities, and the low response rate may affect the representativeness of the sample.
Participant Demographics
The sample included 84% Norwegians, with other ethnic groups such as Western countries (5%), Indian Subcontinent (3%), and others.
Statistical Information
P-Value
< 0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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