Assessment of the Prevalence of Pediculosis capitis among Primary School Girls in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The prevalence of Pediculosis capitis human head lice, among children is a worldwide public health alarm. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of head lice and associated risk environmental and personal factors among primary school girls. Study sample included 590 students from different primary school grades. The results showed that (12.2%) 72/590 of students were infected with Pediculosis capitis. A high rates of infestation was observed among students, who had a long hair, poor family and illiterate mother's (30.2, 28.6 and 28.6%, respectively). However, association of pediculosis capitis with socioeconomic and personal factors showed that pediculosis capitis had a significant association with place of residence, school grade, hair length, previous infection, sharing of instruments, income of parents and education of parents level. While no significant differences could be found between infestation and nationality, frequency of hair washing, cleaning materials for hair washing, mother's occupation, number of children in family and number of people sharing room. The study recommended that the parents and teachers should receive training about the danger of infection and its distribution in family and school in order to prevent it.

Prevalence of Head Pediculosis Among Refugees In Sulaimani Governorate/ Kurdistan- Iraq

“…In the case of refugees, most of the crowded families were living together in resident place and they are using same things. Some studies found low or no significant correlation between lice infestation and the size of the family in contrast to this result [27,9].This study also shows the frequency of hair washing affected lice infestation significantly. This is compatible to [28] in Ravansar west of Iran, they found a significant relationship between infestation and hair washing frequency.…”

“…Also, some studies which reported that hair length did not appear to be an independent risk factor [29]. However, other studies found that long-haired girls were more infested with lice [25,27]. The findings can be attributed to the fact that most of the refugees because of their method of life have no long hair and most of them the hair characters are similar.…”

Prevalence of Pediculosis Capitis and Associated Factors among Primary School Children at Kawiley Village North Sulawesi, Indonesia

“…The prevalence of pediculosis capitis in this study was 68.7% of children in primary schools infested with head lice. This prevalence is quite high compared to studies reported recently in several places, 2.01% in the European Union [26], 12.2% in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia [21], 10% in Barat Daya Iran [25] and 44% in Batambang, Cambodia [27]. Respondents from the researches mentioned previouslty were generally elementary school children in urban areas, where as this research was conducted in rural areas.…”

“…In rural areas, pediculosis capitis was reported to be higher by a number of earlier studies [26]. Megrin [21] had point out that area of residence contributes significantly to the rate of head lice infestation in children (19,2%, p < 0.001). A study conducted at Sabang city, Province of Aceh Indonesia, reported that urban account for 26,6 % prevalence of pediculosis capitis compared to 27.1% of children with infestation of pediculus capitis in rural area [28].…”

“…Pediculosis humanus capitis is known to be a parasitic disease accruing mostly in children, that is why the research conducted by most of the respondents was elementary school children [18][19][20][21][22]. Head lice infestation often does not receive sufficient attention from stakeholders such as the government, society and even those affected by this, because this is often perceived as mere discomfort as appose to it being a health concern that could effect the quality of life.…”