Prevalence of vitiligo among patients attending the skin clinic at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, southwestern Uganda: A retrospective review

Abstract

To the Editor: Vitiligo is a chronic skin disorder characterized by the loss of melanocytes, resulting in depigmented macules and patches. It affects 0.1% to 2% of the global population1 and occurs equally in both genders, often presenting in early life. Despite its global prevalence, data on vitiligo in Uganda are limited, posing challenges for effective health care planning and management. This gap is further exacerbated by a critical shortage of specialist dermatologists in Uganda, with only 12 serving a population of over 45 million.