Survey of effective personal and environmental factors in the prevalence among initial students of rural and urban areas in east Azarbiyjan, Sarab

Abstract

Background: Head louse is a parasitic infestation which can be caused by pediculus humanus capitis. Nowadays this illness is a global spread that can be more common in the ages of 6 to 11 years. Prevalence of the disease world cause serious economical and health problems in the world. This study was conducted to determine pediculosis capitis prevalence and considering effective environmental and individual factors regarding it among elementary students of sarab city in Iran. Methods and Materials: This descriptiive study was conducted among 11016 elementry students of sarab city (boys and girls), 661 students were selected randomaly, then data on variables such as use of common tools, itching, read her shulder, type and bathing, substitution sort cloths, education of parents, income family was collected by a questionnaire and other parameters collected by hair examination regarding parasitic infestation and visit the site and visit environmental factors. Finally, analyzed by Chi – square test with P.V=0.05. Results: Among 661 elementary students who have been examin, 37 students were contaminat with pediculosi (5.6%). Pediculosis prevalence had significant relationship with education and job parents, family income, length of hair, dandruff, previous louse contamination, personal belongings which have been used by others, and itchy scalp and most contamination was observed in family with housewives, unemployed father and income family less than 500000(toman) and students with long hair and itchy, but didn’t have any significant relationship with gender, location of living, house hold numbers, number of house rooms and presence or absence healthy care. Conclusion: According to the result of this study, it can be concluded main reason of pediculosis capitis prevalence among the elementary students are inaccessibility to health centers, do not pay attention to personal hygiene and personal belongings which have been used by others. So it’s necessary for students and their parents to get traind regarding pediculosis capitis, so that not to get contaminated. Also, holding screening program and refer contaminated students to health center to prevent epidemic event canbe recommended.