Shayeghi M, Paksa A, Salim Abadi Y, Sanei Dehkoordi A, Ahmadi A, Eshaghi M, Bazrafkan S
Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Iran J Arthropod Borne Dis. 2010;4(1):42-6. Epub 2010 Jun 30.
Pediculus capitis (Anoplura: Pediculidae) or head louse is an obligate ectoparasite transmitted mainly through physical contact. This study was conducted to survey the prevalence of head lice infestation rate and some risk factors in Primary School pupils, in Khajeh City East Azerbaijan Province, Iran
We selected 20 primary schools of Khajeh City during 2008 and 2009. Totally 500 pupils including 200 boys and 300 girls from all grade 1-5 were selected by multistage, systematic random sampling in rural areas of Khajeh City and were examined for lice. In addition, a standard questionnaire recorded information about demographic features of each pupil. Results were analyzed by SPSS software.
The total prevalence of head lice infestation in this study was 4.8%. and the prevalence rate was significantly higher in girls (6.66%) than in boys (2%). Epidemiological factors such as: sex, school grade, family size, parent's education, type of house, hair washing (per week), number of using comb per day, were evaluated and results showed significant difference in head lice infestation and sex, school grade, family size, father education, and type of house (P< 0.05).
Pediculosis is a public health problem in many parts of the world, and due to the higher prevalence of pediculosis in crowded families, family by lower levels of father's education and socioeconomic status in our study and rural area, it is necessary to give health education for families to prevent of pediculosis in this area.
头虱（虱目：虱科）是一种专性体外寄生虫，主要通过身体接触传播。本研究旨在调查伊朗东阿塞拜疆省哈杰市小学生头虱感染率及一些危险因素。
2008年至2009年期间，我们在哈杰市选取了20所小学。通过多阶段系统随机抽样，从哈杰市农村地区1至5年级的学生中总共选取了500名学生，包括200名男生和300名女生，并对头虱进行检查。此外，通过一份标准问卷记录了每个学生的人口统计学特征信息。结果使用SPSS软件进行分析。
本研究中头虱感染的总患病率为4.8%。女孩的患病率（6.66%）显著高于男孩（2%）。对性别、年级、家庭规模、父母教育程度、房屋类型、每周洗头次数、每天使用梳子次数等流行病学因素进行了评估，结果显示头虱感染在性别、年级、家庭规模、父亲教育程度和房屋类型方面存在显著差异（P<0.05）。
头虱病在世界许多地区都是一个公共卫生问题，并且由于在我们的研究中以及农村地区，拥挤家庭、父亲教育水平较低和社会经济地位较低的家庭中头虱病患病率较高，因此有必要对家庭进行健康教育，以预防该地区的头虱病。
