%0 Journal Article %A Motevalli-Haghi, Seyyed Farzad %A Rafinejad, Javad %A Hosseni, Mahboobeh %A Yazdani-Charati, Jamshid %A Parsi, Behzad %T Prevalence pediculosis and associated risk factors in primary-school children of Mazandaran Province, Iran, 2012-2013 %J Journal of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences %V 23 %N 110 %U http://jmums.mazums.ac.ir/article-1-3402-en.html %R %D 2014 %K Pediculosis capitis, primary school children, epidemiology, geographic information system (GIS), Mazandaran, Iran, %X Background and purpose: Pediculosis is a worldwide public health concern. This descriptive study was performed on primary-school-aged children to determine the prevalence of pediculosis and its risk factors in Mazandaran Province, Iran, on basis of geographic information system (GIS). Materials and methods: A random sampling method was used to select 45237 school-aged children from Sari to Ramsar cities during September 2012 to June 2013. Data were collected from the selected schools by five trained nursing inspectors. A detailed questionnaire was filled for each child prior to hair examination following which examination was carried out to detect head lice as well as eggs/nits. Data were analyzed chi-square test. Finally, the GIS map was obtained in province informational chart. Results: 823 primary-school children (of 45237) were infected with lice in Mazandaran Province. The mean infection prevalence was 1.4% in cities 5.64% in rural area from Sari to Ramsar. There were significant relationships between pediculosis and some factors (P < 0.05). GIS map revealed that the contamination was less in west than in east and central regions. Conclusion: Increasing awareness and training of teachers and parents, as well as improving standards of personal health can significantly reduce the prevalence of pediculosis. %> http://jmums.mazums.ac.ir/article-1-3402-en.pdf %P 82-91 %& 82 %! %9 Research(Original) %L A-10-29-146 %+ %G eng %@ 1735-9260 %[ 2014