The Prevalence of Head Lice Infestation and Its Related Risk Factors in Governmental Primary School Students in Marivan City, West of Iran, 2018-2019

Head lice infestation is one of the health problems that are more prevalent in schools, worldwide. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of head lice infestation in governmental primary school students in Marivan City and its related factors such as age, grade, gender, bathing and hair length in 2018-19.

This was a cross-sectional study conducted in Marivan City in the first semester of 2018-19. Using random sampling method, we selected 457 students from different regions of Marivan. SPSS 20 software was used for data analysis.

Among 457 students, 109 (23.9%) were infested with head lice. The rate of infestation was higher in the girls (68.8%). The highest and lowest percentages of infestation were detected in 29.4% and 2.8% of the fourth and first grade primary school students, respectively. There was a significant statistical relationship between head lice infestation and gender (p = 0.0001).

The results of the study indicated a high rate of pediculosis capitis in the students. This high rate of infestation can lead to more spread of infestation among the students and, consequently, - can cause students failure at schools. It seems necessary to take measures to reduce this infestation by planning and designing training classes for school principals, teachers and parents of the students