<![CDATA[Tinea unguium is a fungal infection of the nail plate that may be caused by dermatophytes, non-dermatophytes, or yeasts, and is closely associated with personal hygiene practices. Data from four teaching hospitals on Java Island indicate that tinea unguium accounts for 4.7% of all fungal skin disease cases. This study aimed to analyze the association between personal hygiene and the occurrence of tinea unguium among a rural farming community. An observational analytic study with a cross-sectional design was conducted involving 53 residents of Air Merah Village, Arma Jaya Sub-district, North Bengkulu Regency, selected through cluster random sampling. Personal hygiene data were collected using a validated and reliable questionnaire, while tinea unguium was diagnosed through physical examination and microscopic examination of nail scrapings using 10% KOH solution. The association between variables was analyzed using Fisher's exact test, followed by the Phi correlation test. The results showed that most subjects had poor personal hygiene (84.9%), and 37.7% of subjects were diagnosed with tinea unguium. Fisher's exact test revealed a significant association between personal hygiene and tinea unguium (p=0.016), with a very weak negative correlation strength (r=0.17). Poor hand, nail, and foot hygiene was most common among subjects with positive tinea unguium results (88.3%). This study concludes that personal hygiene is significantly associated with the occurrence of tinea unguium, indicating that education and improvement of hygiene practices, particularly of the hands, nails, and feet, may serve as a prevention strategy in at-risk agrarian populations.]]>
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