Pediculosis capitis is a worldwide problem which carries significant consequences among the school children and caregivers. This study aims to investigate the prevalence and predictors of Pediculosis capitis among primary school children in Kuantan, Pahang. Materials and method: An analytical crosssectional study using two-stage cluster random sampling was carried out among 1,365 primary school children in seven schools in Kuantan, Pahang. A selfadministered validated questionnaire was used followed by hair and scalp examination. Results: The median age of the respondents was 8.0 years. Majority of them were males (53.41%), Malays (60.29%), household income between RM1000RM2999 (31.87%) and from urban school location (98.68%). The overall prevalence of Pediculosis capitis was 9.6% (n=131). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that predictors for Pediculosis capitis were female (Odds ratio (OR)=8.571, 95% Confidence interval (CI)=5.024-14.620), Indian (OR=5.560, 95% CI=3.384-9.136), those with siblings more than five (OR=2.644, 95% CI=1.044-6.700), history of contact with infested person (OR=2.445, 95% CI=1.619-3.691) and urban school location (OR=0.030, 95% CI=0.284-0.091). Conclusion: Pediculosis capitis is a common public health problem affecting primary schoolchildren in Kuantan, Pahang and those levels are of epidemic importance. Hence, preventive measures are necessary to reduce the transmission of head lice among school children.
Pediculosis capitis among primary school children is always known as the problem of the lower socio-economic class and rural communities. It carries significant consequences to the school children and caregivers. Limited studies have been conducted among the urban populations. Thus, this study aims to investigate the prevalence and predictors of Pediculosis capitis among Urban primary school children in Kuantan. Materials and method: An analytical cross-sectional study using cluster random sampling was carried out in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia. A selfadministered validated questionnaire was issued to the participants with purpose to collect socio-demographic data related to age, gender and factors that associated with head lice infestations among primary school children from standard one to six. It was then followed by hair and scalp examination by a well-trained examiners to check the infestation status. The results were analyzed using the chi-squared test and logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 1347 students from 5 schools were included in this study. Majority of them were males (53.6%), Malays (61.0%), household income between RM1000-RM2999 (32.1%). The overall prevalence was 9.1% (n=122). Multivariate analysis showed that predictors for pediculosis capitis were female gender (OR= 6.02, 95% CI= 2.97-12.21), Indian ethnicity (OR= 5.55 , 95% CI=3.26-9.45), sibling of more than 5 (OR= 2.72 , 95% CI=1.04-7.12) and contact with infested person (OR=2.42, 95% CI=1.58-3.71). Conclusion: The prevalence of Pediculosis capitis among urban primary school children in Kuantan, Pahang is endemic (9.1%) and predictors are female genders, Indian ethnicity, having siblings of more than 5 and contact with infested person. Hence, preventive measures are necessary to reduce the transmission of head lice among school children.
Pediculosis capitis has been a worldwide concern among the vulnerable population of primary school children due to the physical, economical and psychological consequences that it brings to both the children and their caretakers. It is observed that there were only limited studies conducted in Malaysia and no previous study was done in Kuantan despite the health concern that it bears. Since both local and worldwide studies show that Pediculosis capitis is more prevalent among female as compared to male school children, thus, this study aims to investigate the prevalence and predictors of Pediculosis capitis among female primary school children in Kuantan. Materials and method: An analytical crosssectional study using cluster random sampling was carried out in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia. A self-administered validated questionnaire was used to collect the data among female primary school children from standard one to six. Hair and scalp examination was performed to identify presence of Pediculosis capitis infestation. Multivariate logistic regression was used to control for potential confounding and determine the predictors Results: 10 schools participated in the study with total number of 636 female students as respondents. The overall prevalence of Pediculosis capitis among female primary school children was 17.6% (n=112). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that Indian (OR=5.634, 95% CI= 3.157-10.055), history of contact with infested person (OR=2.822, 95% CI=1.6193.691) and those who had number of family members more than four (OR=0.065, 95% CI=0.008-0.550) were predictors for Pediculosis capitis Conclusion: The prevalence of Pediculosis capitis among female primary school children in Kuantan, Pahang is endemic (17.6%) and predictors are Indian, history of contact with infested person and having family members of more than 4. Hence, there is a need for health intervention to reduce the burden of Pediculosis capitis infestation.
Pediculosis capitis among primary school children is a global problem which poses significant consequences among school children and caregivers alike. Previous studies showed an association between pediculosis capitis and sociodemographic factors such as school location, age, gender, ethnicity, parental education, monthly household income, number of siblings and number of family members. Primary schools in Malaysia consist of National School and National-type school (Chinese) and (Tamil), all of which have different sociodemographic backgrounds. Thus, this study aims to investigate and compare the prevalence of pediculosis capitis among children of different types of primary school in Kuantan to properly plan for future intervention. Materials and method: An analytical crosssectional study using stratified random sampling was carried out. The schools were stratified according to their types. Number of respondents from each school was determined by proportionate-to-size. Respondents from standard one to six were given self-administered validated questionnaire. Then, their hair and scalp were examined for the evidence of pediculosis capitis. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: There were 1,365 respondents involved in this study; consisting of students from National Schools (n=791), Chinese Schools (n=424) and Tamil Schools (n=150). The overall median age was 8.0 years. Majority of them were males (53.41%), of Malays ethnicity (60.29%), with household income between RM1000-RM2999 (31.87%) and from urban school location (98.68%). The overall prevalence of pediculosis capitis was 9.6% (n=131). The prevalence of pediculosis capitis among the selected schools was found to be the highest in National-type school (Tamil) at 33.33% (n=50), followed by National School at 7.33% (n=58) and National-type school (Chinese) at 5.42% (n=23). Conclusion: Pediculosis capitis showed an endemicity in all types of primary schools. Hence, preventive measures are necessary to reduce the transmission of head lice among school children.