Prevalence and Risk Factors of Pediculosis in Different Primary School in Zakho City, Iraq

Abstract

The head louse (Pediculus humanus capitis) is a common, wingless, obligate blood-sucking ­ectoparasite belonging to the order Phthiraptera, which is a specific parasite of humans with worldwide medical importance. This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of head lice and its associated factors among primary school pupils in six selected schools in Zakho City. A total of 215 pupils (80 boys and 135 girls) were examined from the first to the sixth stages, aged 6 to 14 years, during October 2024 to March 2025. The results revealed an overall infestation prevalence of 22.32% (48/215), with a significantly higher rate among females than males (30.37% vs 8.75%). The age of 8 years showed the highest nonsignificant infestation rate with pediculosis; thereafter, the rate declined nonsignificantly with increasing age. The infestation rate among long-haired pupils was 29% higher than among short-haired pupils (16.52%). The student using the shared combs has a higher infestation rates than using the personal comb. This study revealed a significant relationship (P < 0.05) between gender, hair length, growth stage, and school location and head louse infestation. In contrast, no significant relationships (P > 0.05) were observed for age, hair washing, using a personal comb, and head lice infestation. From this study, we conclude that there is a high prevalence of head lice among pupils in primary schools, which necessitates the application of preventive measures, including personal hygiene and cleanliness, frequent hair washing, and not sharing combs between students or family members.