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Assessment of the prevalence of pediculosis capitis and related effective features among primary schoolchildren in Ahvaz County, Southwest of Iran

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Abstract

The present research was carried out to investigate the prevalence of head lice and related effective features among students in primary schools of Ahvaz County; Iran; to suitable training programs via improve the health promotion of the students in this county during winter 2016 and spring 2017. The sample size was 5930 students that was determined by using a single population proportion formula. In this analytical–descriptive study, samples were selected by a multistep, classification random sampling strategy. The data was collected in two parts, a carefully visual examination of the hair and scalp with head lice comb, and an interview to complete a questionnaire about epidemiologic factors. The collected data was evaluated using SPSS software, version 22. These data were compared using a Chi-square analysis, and a p value of less than 0.05 was considered to be significant. The overall head lice infestation rate in the studied population was 26.3%. The prevalence rate was 15.2% in the boys and 37.9% in the girls, while the rate of infestation was 25.1% in the urban areas and 36.9% in the villages. Also, a statistical significant relationship was observed between Pediculosis capitis and gender, geographical area, type of home, access to tap water, hygiene bath at home, bath times per week, the number of family individuals, sleeping in the common bedroom, use common bedding, daily comb, use common comb, use common towel, use common scarf, history of infestation, presence health educator in school, access to primary health services, knowledge about head lice, infestation in the family, performing personal hygiene, itching on the head and hair style, length, density, and color. The high prevalence of head lice among students in the majority of primary schools in Ahvaz County is attributable to inadequate access to health educators, sanitation facilities, inattention to personal health, and other related factors. The controlling program must be done more efficiently to prevent the prevalence of head lice infestation. It is suggested that the people’s knowledge and attitude about biology, clinical presentation, prevention, and treatment strategies of pediculosis capitis should be improved.

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Acknowledgments

This study is subject of M.Sc thesis of Mr. Mahmood Mehraghaei. The authors wish to express their sincere thanks to all staffs of the Health Centers of Ahvaz County, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran, who helped sincerely for data collecting.

Availability of data and materials

The dataset in the current study is available from the corresponding author upon request.

Funding

This project has been financially supported by Chancellor for Research Affairs of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences with project number U-96094.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Entomology, School of Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

    Hamid Kassiri & Mahmood Mehraghaei

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  1. Hamid Kassiri
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  2. Mahmood Mehraghaei
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Contributions

Hamid Kassiri: manuscript preparation, scientific advisor, technical advisor, data analyzer, developing the study idea, performing experimental work, abstracted data, and corresponding author; Mahmood Mehraghaei: cooperation in doing field work, collecting the data, the research project, cooperation in data analysis, and data summary.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hamid Kassiri.

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The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Ethical approval

The study was approved by the Committee of Ethics in Research, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences and registered as IR.AJUMS.REC.1396.552. This project was done in accordance with the ethical principles and the national norms and standard for conducting medical research in Iran. No photographs or names of cases are found in the paper. The confidentiality of the records of patients was assured. Participation was fully voluntary, and written informed consent was got from all the parents of eligible children under study. Confidentiality of the data had been retained at whole levels of the research.

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Responsible editor: Lotfi Aleya

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Kassiri, H., Mehraghaei, M. Assessment of the prevalence of pediculosis capitis and related effective features among primary schoolchildren in Ahvaz County, Southwest of Iran. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 22577–22587 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-12284-9

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