The Prevalence Rate of Head Lice Infection and Effective Factors in Primary School Students in Khorramabad City, Iran

Head lice is one of the most important factors for evaluating the level of personal hygiene in the society, and can cause physical, mental, and social problems in students. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiological factors of head lice infestation and the factors affecting it in primary school students in Khorramabad City, Iran, during the years 2018-19.

In this cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study, a total of 3890 primary school students were selected using mixed sampling method, and the data were collected using a questionnaire and direct search. The results were analyzed using independent t, chi-square, and Mann-Whitney tests at a significance level of P < 0.05.

Infection rates were found in 148 students (3.8%), of which, 121 (5.7%) were girls and 27 (1.53%) were boys. Head lice infection had a significant relationship with factors such as gender, place of residence, occupation and education of parents, shared use of personal belongings, use of shared bed, hair length, itchy scalp, common use of mobile and tablet games, infection of other family members, the type of school, and the presence of a school health instructor.

Factors affecting lice infestation are almost entirely related to socioeconomic, cultural, and behavioral issues. Due to the significant relationship between many demographic, socioeconomic, and health factors, by controlling these factors and the necessary training, the prevalence of this infection can be reduced.