Prevalence of Pediculosis and Associated Risk Factors among
Elementary School Females in Mashhad, Iran, during 2017-
2018

Mohammadi, Mohammad Eesmaeil; Motevalli-Haghi, Seyyed Farzad; Rafinejad, Javad; Yazdani-Charati, Jamshid; Hosseini-Vasoukolaei, Nasibeh; Dehghan, Omid

doi:10.29252/ArchHygSci.8.4.245

Volume 8, Issue 4 (Autumn 2019) Arch Hyg Sci 2019, 8(4): 245-252 | Back to browse issues page

‎ 10.29252/ArchHygSci.8.4.245

‎ 20.1001.1.22519203.2019.8.4.6.2

Mendeley

Zotero

RefWorks

Mohammadi M E, Motevalli-Haghi S F, Rafinejad J, Yazdani-Charati J, Hosseini-Vasoukolaei N, Dehghan O. Prevalence of Pediculosis and Associated Risk Factors among Elementary School Females in Mashhad, Iran, during 2017- 2018. Arch Hyg Sci 2019; 8 (4) :245-252
URL: http://jhygiene.muq.ac.ir/article-1-424-en.html

Prevalence of Pediculosis and Associated Risk Factors among Elementary School Females in Mashhad, Iran, during 2017- 2018

Mohammad Eesmaeil Mohammadi¹

, Seyyed Farzad Motevalli-Haghi ^*

², Javad Rafinejad³

, Jamshid Yazdani-Charati⁴

, Nasibeh Hosseini-Vasoukolaei²

, Omid Dehghan²

1- Department of Entomology and Vector Control, Health Sciences Research Center, Faculty of Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
2- Department of Entomology and Vector Control, Health Sciences Research Center, Faculty of Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
3- Department of Medical Entomology, Faculty of Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
4- Department of Biostatistics, Health Sciences Research Center, Faculty of Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.

Abstract: (2480 Views)

Background & Aims of the Study: Pediculosis is a parasitic disease and one of the main
factors affecting the health level of the society. The present study aimed to determine the
risk factors associated with the prevalence of pediculosis in elementary school females in
Mashhad, Iran, from 2017 to 2018.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive and analytical study included 3062 elementary
school female students who were selected by a multistage systematic random sampling in
Mashhad, Iran. Experienced health experts examined the students for the presence of nits or
live lice. Demographic information form was employed to collect data on gender, place of
residence, and others. The data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 18.0) through a
Chi-square analysis. A P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Out of 3062 elementary school females, 417 cases were infected with pediculosis
and the average infection rate of 13.6%. The results showed that head lice infestation was
significantly correlated with factors, such as age, school grade, sleeping in a common room,
using shared personal instruments, personal health care, parents' educational level, and hair
shape (P<0.05). On the other hand, head lice infestation was not significantly correlated
with health expert presence at schools, family size, and fathers' occupational status
(P>0.05).
Conclusion: The enhancement of standards for personal health and raising the awareness
of teachers and parents about the prevention methods and risk factors associated with
pediculosis can significantly reduce the prevalence of this infection among female school
children in the regions under study.

Keywords: Epidemiology, Lice Infestations, Risk Factors, Schools

Full-Text [PDF 530 kb] (736 Downloads) | | Full-Text (HTML) (803 Views)

Type of Study: Original Article | Subject: Environmental Health
Received: 2019/10/26 | Accepted: 2020/01/5 | Published: 2019/12/31

References

1. 1. Fancelli C, Prato M, Montagnani C, Pierattelli M, Becherucci P, Chiappini E, et al. Survey assessment on pediatricians' attitudes on head lice management. Italian journal of pediatrics. 2013;39(1):62. Link [DOI:10.1186/1824-7288-39-62]

2. Haghi FM, Golchin M, Yousefi M, Hosseini M, Parsi B. Prevalence of pediculosis and associated risk factors in the girls primary school in Azadshahr City, Golestan Province, 2012-2013. Iranian Journal of Health Sciences. 2014;2(2):63-8. Link [DOI:10.18869/acadpub.jhs.2.2.63]

3. Shirvani ZG, Ardestani MS. Evaluation of a health education program for head lice infestation in female primary school students in Chabahar City, Iran. Archives of Iranian medicine. 2013;16(1):42. Link

4. El-Sayed MM, Toama MA, Abdelshafy AS, Esawy AM, El-Naggar SA. Prevalence of pediculosis capitis among primary school students at Sharkia Governorate by using dermoscopy. Egyptian Journal of Dermatology and Venerology. 2017;37(2):33. Link [DOI:10.4103/ejdv.ejdv_47_16]

5. Kokturk A, Baz K, Bugdayci R, Sasmaz T, Tursen U, Kaya TI, et al. The prevalence of pediculosis capitis in schoolchildren in Mersin, Turkey. International journal of dermatology. 2003;42(9):694-8. Link [DOI:10.1046/j.1365-4362.2003.01836.x]

6. Al Bashtawy M, Hasna F. Pediculosis capitis among primary-school children in Mafraq Governorate, Jordan. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal. 2012;18(1):43-48. Link [DOI:10.26719/2012.18.1.43]

7. Rassami W, Soonwera M. Epidemiology of pediculosis capitis among schoolchildren in the eastern area of Bangkok, Thailand. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine. 2012;2(11):901-4. Link [DOI:10.1016/S2221-1691(12)60250-0]

8. Etim S, Ohioma M, Okon O, Akpan P. Pediculosis among primary school children in Calabar, Nigeria and implications for control. Scientific Research and Essays. 2012;7(47):4071-5. Link

9. Motovali-Emami M, Aflatoonian MR, Fekri A, Yazdi M. Epidemiological aspects of Pediculosis capitis and treatment evaluation in primary-school children in Iran. Pak J Biol Sci. 2008;11(2):260-4. Link [DOI:10.3923/pjbs.2008.260.264]

10. ARJMAND ZS, Joukar M, Khatmi S, Zarenezhad M, Elahzadeh lavari H, Tahmasebi R. Prevalence of pediculosis and scabies in primary schools of Bushehr; 1999-2000. 2001. Link

11. Moradiasl E, Habibzadeh S, Rafinejad J, Abazari M, Ahari SS, Saghafipour A, Mehrtak M, Edalatkhah H. Risk factors associated with head lice (pediculosis) infestation among elementary school students in Meshkinshahr County, North West of Iran. International Journal of Pediatrics. 2018;6(3):7383-92. Link

12. Dehghani R, Davari B, Moosavi SG, Kachoei E, Rahimi M, Dehshiri F. Prevalence of head lice infestation among 3-6 years old nursery children in Kashan (2009). Journal of Occupational Health and Epidemiology. 2012 Jul 15;1(2):81-6. Link [DOI:10.18869/acadpub.johe.1.2.81]

13. Motevalli-Haghi SF, Rafinejad J, Hosseni M, Yazdani-Charati J, Parsi B. Prevalence pediculosis and associated risk factors in primary-school children of Mazandaran Province, Iran, 2012-2013. Journal of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. 2014;23(110):82-91. Link

14. Kassiri H, Esteghali E. Prevalence rate and risk factors of pediculus capitis among primary school children in Iran. Archives of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 2016;4(1). Link [DOI:10.5812/pedinfect.26390]

15. Moradi AR, Zahirnia AH, Alipour AM, Eskandari Z. The prevalence of Pediculosis capitis in primary school students in Bahar, Hamadan Province, Iran. Journal of Research in Health Sciences. 2009;9(1):45-9. Link

16. Davari B, Yaghmael R. Prevalence of head lice and its related factors in the primary school students in Sanandaj 1378. 2005;10:39-45. Link

17. Moosazadeh M, Afshari M, Keianian H, Nezammahalleh A, Enayati AA. Prevalence of head lice infestation and its associated factors among primary school students in Iran: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Osong public health and research perspectives. 2015;6(6):346-56. Link [DOI:10.1016/j.phrp.2015.10.011]

18. Salemi JA, Shayeghi N, Zeraati H, Akbarzadeh K, Basseri H, Ebrahimi B, et al. Some aspects of head lice infestation in Iranshahr area (southeast of Iran). Iranian Journal of Public Health. 2003:60-3. Link

19. Doroodgar A, Sadr F, Doroodgar M, Doroodgar M, Sayyah M. Examining the prevalence rate of Pediculus capitis infestation according to sex and social factors in primary school children. Asian Pacific journal of tropical disease. 2014;4(1):25-9. Link [DOI:10.1016/S2222-1808(14)60308-X]

20. Shayeghi M, Paksa A. Epidemiology of head lice infestation in primary school pupils, in khajeh city, East azerbaijan province, iran. Iranian journal of arthropod-borne diseases. 2010;4(1):42. Link

21. Willems S, Lapeere H, Haedens N, Pasteels I, Naeyaert J-M, De Maeseneer J. The importance of socio-economic status and individual characteristics on the prevalence of head lice in schoolchildren. European Journal of Dermatology. 2005;15(5):387-92. Link

22. AL-Megrin W. Assessment of the prevalence of pediculosis capitis among primary school girls in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Res J Environ Sci. 2015;9(4):193-99. Link [DOI:10.3923/rjes.2015.193.199]

23. Dehghanzadeh R, Asghari-Jafarabadi M, Salimian S, Hashemi AA, Khayatzadeh S. Impact of family ownerships, individual hygiene, and residential environments on the prevalence of pediculosis capitis among schoolchildren in urban and rural areas of northwest of Iran. Parasitology research. 2015;114(11):4295-303. Link [DOI:10.1007/s00436-015-4670-1]

24. Jahandideh S, Eslamifar M, Barimani K, Motevalli-Haghi SF. Epidemiologic study of Pediculosis and the effective factors in the Sari Township kindergartens in 2014. J Entomol Zool Stud. 2017;5(3):87-90. Link

25. Soultana V, Euthumia P, Antonios M, Angeliki RS. Prevalence of pediculosis capitis among schoolchildren in Greece and risk factors: a questionnaire survey. Pediatric Dermatology. 2009;26(6):701-5. Link [DOI:10.1111/j.1525-1470.2009.01016.x]

26. Rafinejad J, Nourollahi A, Biglarian A, Javadian E, Kazemnejad A, Doosti S. The comparison of the effect of permethrin shampoo and lindane lotion on the treatment of head lice (Pediculus Humanus Capitis) in the primary school pupils. Journal of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. 2011;21(83):35-41.[ in persian] Link

27. Saghafipour A, Akbari A, Norouzi M, Khajat P, Jafari T, Tabaraie Y, et al. The Epidemiology of Pediculus Is Humanus Capitis Infestation and Effective Factors in Elementary Schools of Qom Province Girls 2010, Qom, Iran. Qom University of Medical Sciences Journal. 2012;6(3):46-51. Link

28. Devore CD, Schutze GE, Council on School Health and Committee on Infectious Diseases. Head lice. Pediatrics. 2015 May 1;135(5):e1355-65. Link [DOI:10.1542/peds.2015-0746]

29. Soleimani-Ahmadi M. The Epidemiological Aspect of Pediculusis in Primary School. J Med Sci. 2007;7(2):299-302. Link [DOI:10.3923/jms.2007.299.302]