Public perceptions and attitudes toward vitiligo

Previous studies have discussed attitudes of vitiligo patients toward their disease. However, no studies have addressed this issue from the public's point of view.

To explore the perceptions, attitudes, and misconceptions of the public toward vitiligo.

A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to attendees of primary health care centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between January and August 2010.

Overall, 924 of the 1,000 distributed questionnaires were returned, and 429 were males (46.8%). Moreover, 33.1% (303 of 916) believed that vitiligo is contagious or did not know that it is not. The cause of vitiligo was thought to be infectious by 20.4% of respondents (182 of 894), inherited by 40.5% (365 of 902), autoimmune by 41.2% (370 of 899), and due to a lack of hygiene by 22.5% (199 of 883). Unmarried individuals and those with less education were more likely to state that vitiligo is caused by an infection (.  =  .02, .  =  .03, respectively). Younger individuals and those with less education were more likely to think that vitiligo is caused by a lack of hygiene (.  =  .01, .  =  .001, respectively). More than half of the participants (56.1%, 504 of 898) would be unwilling to marry a vitiligo patient. Younger individuals and males were less likely to marry a vitiligo patient (.  =  .01, .  =  .05, respectively), whereas those of lower income were more likely to accept it (.  =  .002).

Various misconceptions and negative attitudes about vitiligo among the public are prevalent. Educating the public about vitiligo could ultimately lead to better psychosocial well-being of vitiligo patients.