Prevalence of Head Lice Infestation and Its Associated Factors among Primary School Students in Iran: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract

ObjectivesHead lice infestation is one of the most important health problems, generally involving children aged 5–13 years. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of head lice infestation and its associated factors among primary school children using systematic review and meta-analysis methods.MethodsDifferent national and international databases were searched for selecting the relevant studies using appropriate keywords, Medical Subject Heading terms, and references. Relevant studies with acceptable quality for meta-analysis were selected having excluded duplicate and irrelevant articles, quality assessment, and application of inclusion/exclusion criteria. With calculating standard errors according to binomial distribution and also considering the Cochrane's Q test as well as I-squared index for heterogeneity, pediculosis prevalence rate was estimated using Stata SE V.11 software.ResultsForty studies met the inclusion criteria of this review and entered into the meta-analysis including 200,306 individuals. Using a random effect model, the prevalence (95% confidence interval) of head lice infestation among primary school children was estimated as 1.6% (1.2–2.05), 8.8% (7.6–9.9), and 7.4% (6.6–8.2) for boys, girls, and all the students, respectively. The infestation rate was found to be associated with low educational level of parents, long hair, family size, mother's job (housewife), father's job (worker/unemployed), using a common comb, lack of bathrooms in the house, and a low frequency of bathing.ConclusionThis meta-analysis revealed that the prevalence of head lice infestation among Iranian primary school children is relatively high with more prevalence among girls. We also found that economic, social, cultural, behavioral, and hygienic factors are associated with this infestation.

Prevalence of head lice infestation and pediculicidal effect of permethrine shampoo in primary school girls in a low-income area in southeast of Iran

“…This finding is supported by other studies in the northwest of Iran [9, 14]. Similarly, in studies conducted in Korea, Jordan, and Egypt, a strong association between head lice infestation and bathing facilities in the home was reported [15–17].…”

Factors affecting Pediculosis capitis prevention at Islamic boarding school in Indonesia

“…It shows that the better behavior could better improve prevention of Pediculosis capitis. It is in line with the study which stated that behavioral factors have an association with the Pediculosis capitis infection [16]. A positive response towards the prevention is based on the awareness that Pediculosis capitis is a problem that affect the daily activities, this is evidence by the responses where they agreed that they are willing to prevent and treat Pediculosis capitis because they feel uncomfortable and itchy of the scalp.…”

“…The result of identification data which seven respondents with good knowledge, showed that they did not aware to prevent using stuffs together such as veil, headband, clothes, comb, towel, and bad habit in washing and drying clothes. It correspond with a study regarding factors related to the prevalence that using common comb can cause the Pediculosis capitis [16]. The bedroom was 3x5 meter filled 20-23 students, students sleep together by sharing bed stuffs.…”

“…Data analysis can be concluded that there are environmental influences on prevention Pediculosis capitis at boarding school. It is supported by the study regarding environmental factors such lack of bathrooms in the house significantly affect the prevention [16]. Respondents strongly agreed on the statement that the pillows in the boarding school number is less so they had to sleep with a sharing pillow, while the least value on the statement that the bedroom was too congested.…”

Lindane Shampoo for Head Lice Treatment among Female Secondary School Students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: An Interventional Study

“…The extensive use of pediculicides with a neurotoxic mode of action has led to the development and spread of resistant head lice populations worldwide [12][13][14]. In addition, the failure of current chemical treatments to kill lice embryos in eggs, the environmental and food safety concerns posed by these treatments, and their potential toxicity to users necessitate the development of safe alternative treatment methods that can effectively kill adult lice and eggs via new modes of action [15,16], Other causes for the development of resistance to existing pediculicides include the persistence of pediculicide residue on hair, exposure of lice to sub-therapeutic concentrations, and inadequate concentration levels [5,6]. Numerous studies of the different types of head lice treatments have revealed that commercial pediculicides are ineffective in treating head lice infestations in students [12][13][14][17][18][19].…”