Prevalence of pediculosis and its related factors among primary school girls in the north of Iran

Abstract

Introduction Head lice infestation is one of the main public health problems worldwide and a sanitary, cultural and economic indicator for communities’ health. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of head lice infestation among female primary school children in selected districts of Mazandaran Province, Iran. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 3033 female school children were recruited using the consensus method. Head lice infestation was defined as visible adult lice, nymph or egg with the naked eye. Data were described by percent frequency and analyzed using the chi-squared test and multivariate logistic regression models. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results Prevalence of head lice infestation among female school children was estimated at 7.9%. The adjusted odds ratios (OR) [95% confidence intervals (CI)] for rural residents, low level educated mothers, family size more than five and not combing their hair were 1.96 (1.41–2.78), 2.46 (1.35–4.49), 2.04 (1.12–3.70) and 3.94 (1.73–8.96), respectively. In addition, considering first grade students as a reference group, the ORs (95% CI) for second and third grades were 1.89 (1.18–3.05) and 1.69 (1.05–2.74), respectively. Conclusion Our study showed that studying in urban schools, low educational level of mothers, grade, family size and no history of regular combing were predictors of head lice infestation.

Head lice infestation and the role of some cognitive‐behavioral factors in its spread and prevention among adolescent girls: A cross‐sectional study in Northwest Iran

“…Some studies have shown that the factors affecting HLI include demographic and socioeconomic factors, lifestyle‑related factors, number of people sharing the room (family size), accessibility to soaps/shampoos, sharing of bed, towels/soaps and combs, bathing, not combing hair, hair longitude and condition, going to the hairdresser, low level of family's knowledge about head lice, its transmission, and treatment, school type (Government/private). 1 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16…”

“…2,[8][9][10][11][12] Some studies have shown that the factors affecting HLI include demographic and socioeconomic factors, lifestyle-related factors, number of people sharing the room (family size), accessibility to soaps/shampoos, sharing of bed, towels/soaps and combs, bathing, not combing hair, hair longitude and condition, going to the hairdresser, low level of family's knowledge about head lice, its transmission, and treatment, school type (Government/private). 1,[13][14][15][16] Due to the prevalence of head lice in schools and adolescent girls, it seems that some factors affecting this health problem are unknown. According to the study by Nezhadali et al, Cognitive and behavioral factors determined 21% of the variance in predictive behaviors of head lice.…”