Prevalence Rate and Risk Factors of Pediculus capitis Among Primary School Children in Iran

Human head lice infestations caused by Pediculus capitis are a common health problem in school aged children in many parts of the globe. Its transmission occurs directly, mostly by head to head contact, and causes scalp itching. This insect is not known to be the vector of any human disease. This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in order to determine the prevalence of pediculosis, as well as some effective treatments, among pupils in the primary schools of Glogah county in the Mazandaran province of Iran, during the 2009-2010 school year. A total of three-hundred students in the first through fifth grades in boys’ and girls’ primary schools were selected via multistage, systematic, cluster, random sampling in the urban and rural areas of Glogah county. They were examined for live lice or nits by experienced educators, while a questionnaire was used to record data on the demographic features and other related information of each student. These data were compared using a chi square analysis (SPSS software), and a P value of less than 0.05 was considered to be significant. Based on a total of 300 pupils, 17 of them (5.7%) were infested with Pediculus capitis. The prevalence rate was 6.8% in the boys and 4.8% in the girls, while the rate of infestation was 7.7% in the urban areas and 3.4% in the villages. Those children between 9 and 10 years old showed the highest prevalence rate (7.4%). There was a significant association between pediculosis and a prior infestation, number of comb uses per day, frequency of hair washing (per week), having a hygiene teacher, sharing common instruments, health care of the children, children living with parents, knowledge of pediculosis, and the spacing of the children in each class. The results showed that the prevalence of pediculosis among the Glogah county primary school students was less than the average percentages observed in other students inside and outside of Iran