DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2020.v08i11.008

Pages: 2478-2482

The prevalence of pediculosis capitis is still high worldwide regardless of the many attempts to eliminate the cause either in developed or developing countries. Many factors contribute to the difficulties to eradicate this problem, one being the efficiency of the mite to breed and spread undetected. Children, who are affected, are mostly in their primary school period, may experience anemia, sleeping disturbances, wound in the scalp, negative social stigma, and problem in concentration and learning. Mother, as a primary caregiver for children in a conventional or domesticated society, may take part in the development and spread of pediculosis capitis in these children. This study explores the prevalence of pediculosis capitis in a rural area in Indonesia and its association to gender, mothers’ level of education. Method: This study is a cross sectional study that depicts and analyze the prevalence of pediculosis capitis and its associated factors at one primary school in Kawiley village North Sulawesi. Samples who met the criteria and used in this study are 83 primary school children. They were recruited randomly from primary school. Participants consist of 48 Girls and 35 Boys were brought in and examined for pediculus capitis infestation. Mothers’ educational level were gained from school database. Results and Discussion: The prevalence of pediculosis capitis was 68.7% (57 students), in which 39 out of 48 girls had pediculosis capitis (81%) in contrast to the 18 (51%) out of 35 pediculosis capitis in boys. Statistically, using Chi Squares tests, the prevalence of pediculosis capitis is associated with gender (p 0.04). Meaning that Girls, like many publications sugested, still have higher presentation for head louse infestation than boys. Several factors are suggested to contribute for this prevalence including the length of girls’ hair and using the same combs, bandana, towel, and other stuff together. Regarding mothers’ education level, there is no .............