Dagne Henok, Biya Awel Aba, Tirfie Amanuel, Yallew Walelegn Worku, Andualem Zewudu, Dagnew Baye
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar (UoG), P.O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Department of Human Physiology, School of Medicine, UoG, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Int J Pediatr. 2020 Jun 21;2020:3619494. doi: 10.1155/2020/3619494. eCollection 2020.
is a human head lice infestation, a major public health issue that is most prevalent in resource-limited countries globally. The current study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of pediculus capitis prevention and control and their predictors among schoolchildren in North West Ethiopia.
About 402 randomly selected schoolchildren from three schools in Woreta town participated in the study from April to June 2018. The outcomes of this study were knowledge, attitude, and self-reported practice of schoolchildren about prevention and control. We used EPI Info 7.1 and SPSS 21 software for data entry and analysis, respectively. Binary logistic regression was employed to test the association of covariates with the outcome/response variables. Variables with a value <0.2 during the bivariable binary logistic regression analysis were included in the multivariable binary logistic regression analysis. Variables with value <0.05 were declared as significantly associated with outcomes.
The mean age of the study participants was 10.19 (±1.62) years. About 58.8%, 45.8%, and 78.6% of the schoolchildren had better self-reported prevention knowledge, attitude, and practice, respectively. Age of children [9 to 11 years (AOR = 2.24, 95% C.I (1.10, 4.55)) and>12 years (AOR = 3.84, 95% C.I (1.56, 9.46))], better practice (AOR = 2.93, 95% C.I (1.39, 6.18)), and those who were not infested (AOR = 2.25, 95% C.I (1.14, 4.44)) were predictors of knowledge regarding prevention. Better practice (AOR = 4.33, 95% C.I (1.69, 11.09)) and absence of infestation (AOR = 2.97, 95% C.I (1.64, 5.36)) were predictors of attitude of schoolchildren about prevention. Number of students in a class [51 to 56 students per classroom, AOR = 4.61, 95% C.I (1.83, 11.67); 57 to 58 students per classroom, AOR = 8.18, 95% C.I (2.73, 24.46)], less than five family size (AOR = 2.37, 95% C.I (1.24, 4.54)), better knowledge (AOR = 2.93, 95% C.I (1.32, 6.50)), desirable attitude (AOR = 4.24, 95% C.I (1.60, 11.23)), and absence of infestation (AOR = 3.52, 95% C.I (1.22, 10.15)) were predictors of self-reported prevention practice.
The knowledge, attitude, and practice of schoolchildren regarding prevention and control were not satisfactory. To bring change, intensive efforts on factors associated with the knowledge, attitude, and practice should be encouraged.
人头虱感染是一个重大的公共卫生问题，在全球资源有限的国家最为普遍。本研究旨在评估埃塞俄比亚西北部学童对头虱预防和控制的知识、态度和实践及其预测因素。
2018年4月至6月，从沃雷塔镇三所学校随机抽取约402名学童参与研究。本研究的结果是学童对头虱预防和控制的知识、态度及自我报告的实践情况。我们分别使用EPI Info 7.1和SPSS 21软件进行数据录入和分析。采用二元逻辑回归检验协变量与结果/反应变量之间的关联。在双变量二元逻辑回归分析中，P值<0.2的变量纳入多变量二元逻辑回归分析。P值<0.05的变量被判定与结果显著相关。
研究参与者的平均年龄为10.19（±1.62）岁。分别约有58.8%、45.8%和78.6%的学童自我报告对头虱预防有较好的知识、态度和实践。儿童年龄[9至11岁（比值比=2.24，95%置信区间（1.10，4.55））和>12岁（比值比=3.84，95%置信区间（1.56，9.46））]、较好的实践（比值比=2.93，95%置信区间（1.39，6.18））以及未感染（比值比=2.25，95%置信区间（1.14，4.44））是对头虱预防知识的预测因素。较好的实践（比值比=4.33，95%置信区间（1.69，11.09））和未感染（比值比=2.97，95%置信区间（1.64，5.36））是学童对头虱预防态度的预测因素。班级学生人数[每班51至56名学生，比值比=4.61，95%置信区间（1.83，11.67）；每班57至58名学生，比值比=8.18，95%置信区间（2.73，24.46）]、家庭规模小于5人（比值比=2.37，95%置信区间（1.24，4.54））、较好的知识（比值比=2.93，95%置信区间（1.32，6.50））、理想的态度（比值比=4.24，95%置信区间（1.60，11.23））以及未感染（比值比=3.52，95%置信区间（1.22，10.15））是自我报告的头虱预防实践的预测因素。
学童对头虱预防和控制的知识、态度和实践情况并不理想。为带来改变，应鼓励针对与知识、态度和实践相关因素的深入努力。
