Study of effectiveness of parents- school participation approach on promoting of preventative behaviors about head lice infestation on elementary school students in the city of Chaldoran

Abstract

Background and objectives: Despite the improvement of living standards and public health as well as conducting the specific programs based on pediculosis control guidelines, Head Lice Infestation (HLI) is still a worldwide health concern. HLI might cause distress and anxiety in children and other family members. The purpose of this study was to Study of effectiveness of parents- school participation approach on promoting of preventative behaviors about head lice infestation on elementary school students in the city of Chaldoran. Methods: In this Quasi-experimenjal study, a multi-stage cluster random sample of 619 mothers of students in elementary schools of Chaldoran County, located in North-West of Iran, was recruited to participate in the study. Data were collected applying a set of questionnaires including socio-demographic and cognitive-behavioral factors, including Pediculosis Preventive Behaviors (PPBs), HLI knowledge, threat appraisal, as well as HLI prevention perceived self-efficacy, response efficacy, and perceived collective family efficacy. Results: preventive behaviors of pediculosis were improved in interventional group of stufents such as number of hair washings per week,number of hair brushings per day,don’t Shared use of items, don’t Shared use of mattress(p-value<0.05). but there was no significant difference in the use of personal belongings for haircutting(p-value=0.31). After the intervention, the mean scores of all parameters; Knowledge, Perceived susceptibility, Perceived severity, Perceived Self-Efficacy, Response efficacy, Collective efficacy at the family, significantly improved in the intervention mothers’ group(p-value<0.05). Conclusion: preventative behaviors of head lice infestation increase in students by implementing parental- school based participatory programs.