Mohsen Najjari - Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Hossien Zarrinfar - Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Background and Aim : Pediculosis is an important social challenge that can be caused by human head louse, Pediculus humanus capitis. This infestation is cosmopolitan, especially in countries with low hygiene and sanitation. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a health education intervention program on reducing of head lice among pupils of an elementary school.Methods : In a cross-sectional study, a total of ۵۹۴ pupils, a girl elementary school, were screened for pediculosis. Interventions were applied in two steps, pediculosis cases eradication and training-oriented prevention program. Visual inspection was applied for initial diagnosis of infection. The suspected cases were confirmed by wood lamp examination. An elementary school in the same area was selected as the control group, with no interference. The prevalence of contamination was obtained in the study group.Results : At the beginning of study, the overall prevalence of pediculosis among pupils was ۸.۴% (۴۹/۵۹۴). The mean age in all pupils was ۹.۸۶±۱.۸۳ years old and the most infestation was showed in fourth-grade students with ۱۰ years old. Analysis of statistics demonstrated a significance difference between having infestation and the number of members in the families. The interventions led to a significant increase of parenting knowledge on prevention program of pediculosis (p-value < ۰.۰۰۱), and a decreased prevalence of pediculosis in pupils to ۳% (۸/۵۹۴) (p-value < ۰.۰۵).Conclusion : The prevalence of pediculosis was significantly reduced following the interventions in the school. The applied interventions may be implemented in other residual centers to get rid of this important infestation.

Pediculosis; Training programs; Primary schools; Infestation; Iran