Prevalence and Risk Factors Of Pediculosis Capitis n Elementary School Children: A Systematic Review

Pediculosis is an infestation of lice on the body, head or genitals in humans that occurs throughout the world. Head lice infestation (Pediculosis capitis) affects 100 million people worldwide each year. Pediculosis capitis is more common in developing countries and affects school-aged children. This study was conducted to review and provide information regarding the prevalence and risk factors associated with pediculosis capitis in elementary school-aged children. This method of study uses systematic literature review and data searches through databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, Scopus, Springer, Taylor and Francis, Wiley Online Library which discusses the prevalence and risk factors for pediculosis capitis in elementary school-aged children. Eleven cross-sectional studies were included. The results showed that the prevalence of pediculosis capitis in elementary school children ranged from 0.58% to 65.7%, more in girls than boys and tended to be more frequent in the upper grades. In this study, the prevalence of pediculosis capitis was associated with long hair size, low educational level of parents, parents who did not work, large number of family members, and use of shared combs and rare frequency of combing hair during a day.