Head lice infestation in some urban localities of NWFP, Pakistan

Suleman, Mohammad; Jabeen, Nazish

doi:10.1080/00034983.1989.11812384

Cited by 13 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Women younger than 16 years are twice as likely to suffer from lice infestation as older women. Other studies have identified a similar trend of decreasing infestation rates among women with increasing age after 12 years [2,4,6,8]. Usually older women are more conscious and aware of personal hygiene and self care.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 55%

“…However, with regards to blood loss that can result from head lice Spear etal [16] showed that for an average infestation of 30 lice per head the blood loss is too minor to be of any clinically significance. Prevalence estimates from our analysis of NHSP are much smaller than the 42% infestation rate among females reported from a survey conducted among the general population in some urban localities in NWFP [8]. This study was conducted in selected localities and the sample was not representative of NWFP or Pakistan.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

“…However, the difference in the prevalence estimates between this survey and the NHSP could also be due to different protocols for detecting head lice in the two surveys. In the survey conducted in reference [8] screening was done by visual inspection and those having or suspected of having lice were subjected to combing of the head with a fine-toothed comb for about two minutes onto a white paper sheet and number of head lice counted. Using the same method for detecting head lice Suleman and Fatima [2] reported an infestation rate of 49% among 8 - 16 year old school girls in Peshawar, the capital of NWFP.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The prevalence of head lice infestation among the general population of four urban localities in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan in 1986 was estimated to be 36.7%, with females showing a higher prevalence (41.5%) than males (27.7%) [8]. Crowding and low level of education were associated with higher rates of infestation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prevalence of head lice and hygiene practices among women over twelve years of age in Sindh, Balochistan, and North West Frontier Province: National Health Survey of Pakistan, 1990-1994

Mahmud

Pappas²,

Hadden

2011

Parasites Vectors

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BackgroundHead lice infestation is an infection of the scalp and skin which causes blood loss, discomfort, and social and psychological distress with the possibility of secondary bacterial infections occurring at scratch sites. In Pakistan, although some small scale studies have been conducted to investigate prevalence of head lice in school children and the general population, no population based estimates have been reported. The National Health Survey of Pakistan (NHSP 1990 - 94) was a nationally representative health examination survey of the Pakistani population. The NHSP is the first population based household survey to collect data on the prevalence of head lice in adult women in Pakistan. In this paper we use data from the NHSP to present an epidemiological profile of personal hygiene practices and head lice infestation among women aged 12 years or older in three provinces of Pakistan; Balochistan, Sindh and North West Frontier Province (NWFP).ResultsOverall about 7% women aged 12 years and older suffered from head lice infestation. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified factors independently associated with presence of head lice. Age less than 16 years and crowding at home were associated with higher infestation-rates. The impact of household socio-economic status on infestation rates among women was different in urban and rural settings; urban women with low socio-economic status were more vulnerable than similar women in rural settings. Bathing infrequently in summer was associated with higher prevalence rates only in Sindh, possibly due to the fact that among the three provinces Sindh has a hotter and more humid summer.ConclusionsThe results of our analysis of NHSP indicate high levels of head lice infestation among girls and women in the three Provinces. The epidemiological profile of hygienic practices of women indicated that NWFP and Balochistan as compared to Sindh, and rural as compared to urban areas were less developed with respect to access to water supply and soap for maintaining personal hygiene. Simple and cost-effective measures such as provision of water and soap, and improving awareness regarding maintaining personal hygiene can contribute significantly towards improving public health status of the women in Pakistan.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 55%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Prevalence of head lice and hygiene practices among women over twelve years of age in Sindh, Balochistan, and North West Frontier Province: National Health Survey of Pakistan, 1990-1994

Mahmud

Pappas²,

Hadden

2011

Parasites Vectors

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“…It is a ubiquitous disease in children[1] and is especially frequent in resource-poor communities in developing countries, where prevalences of around 40% have been reported in some studies. [23456] The main symptom of pediculosis capitis is pruritus of the scalp, but excoriations, impetiginization and cervical lymphadenopathy may also be present. [78] Intense itching with subsequent sleep disturbances may result in concentration difficulties and poor performance in school.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and risk factors associated with pediculosis capitis in an impoverished urban community in Lima, Peru

Lesshafft

Baier

Guerra

et al. 2013

J Global Infect Dis

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Background:Pediculosis capitis is a ubiquitous parasitic skin disease associated with intense pruritus of the scalp. In developing countries it frequently affects children and adults, but epidemiological data at the community level are rare.Objectives:To assess prevalence and risk factors associated with pediculosis capitis in a resource-poor community in Lima, Peru.Materials and Methods:In total, 736 persons living in 199 households in a circumscribed neighbourhood were examined for head lice and nits by visual inspection. At the same time, socio-demographic data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Variables associated with pediculosis were identified by performing a bivariate analysis, followed by a multivariate logistic regression analysis.Results:Prevalence of pediculosis capitis was 9.1% (95% confidence interval (CI): 7.0-11.2 %) in the general population and 19.9% (CI: 15.4-24.4%) in children ≤15 years of age. Multivariate analysis showed that pediculosis capitis was significantly associated with age ≤ 15 years (OR: 16.85; CI:7.42-38.24), female sex (OR: 2.84; CI: 1.58-5.12), household size of >4 persons (OR: 1.98; CI: 1.11-3.55), low quality of house construction material (OR:2.22; CI: 1.20-4.12), and presence of animals in the household (OR: 1.94; CI: 1.11-3.39).Conclusion:Pediculosis capitis was a very common disease in the studied community in Lima, Peru. Our logistic regression analysis affirms that young age is the most important risk factor for pediculosis capitis. Moreover, female sex, large household size, living in wooden houses and the presence of animals were identified as being significantly associated with head lice infestation.

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Epidemiology of pediculosis in the school-going children of district Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan

Naz,

Rebecca,

Khan

et al. 2023

Int J Trop Insect Sci

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Head lice infestation in some urban localities of NWFP, Pakistan

Cited by 13 publications

References 7 publications

Prevalence of head lice and hygiene practices among women over twelve years of age in Sindh, Balochistan, and North West Frontier Province: National Health Survey of Pakistan, 1990-1994

Prevalence of head lice and hygiene practices among women over twelve years of age in Sindh, Balochistan, and North West Frontier Province: National Health Survey of Pakistan, 1990-1994

Prevalence and risk factors associated with pediculosis capitis in an impoverished urban community in Lima, Peru

Epidemiology of pediculosis in the school-going children of district Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan

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