The Prevalence of Pediculus Capitis and Personal Hygiene Status in Two Vocational High Schools.

Aim: Pediculus capitis (P. capitis) is a prevalent contagious parasitosis disease worldwide. It is a serious public health problem because of its high prevalence in school-age children. This study was planned to determine the prevalence of P. capitis and the personal hygiene status of the students in different vocational high schools. Methods: The data were collected from 491 high school students using a Personal Hygiene Questionnaire between September-December 2018 and by the screening of P. capitis. Results: P. capitis was detected in 51.9% of the cases. The prevalence of pediculosis was higher in the female children (236/491) than that in the male children (19/491). This difference was found to be significant according to gender (p<0.001). There was a statistically significant difference between the schools in terms of pediculosis prevalence according to the status of washing hands before meals and cutting nails (p<0.05). There was a significant difference between the children's P. capitis positivity according to their level of knowledge about P. capitis (p<0.05). Conclusion: P.capitis remains a prevalent endemic problem in school-age children in Turkey. Providing education in schools, raising awareness of parents and ensuring cooperation will contribute to the decrease of P. capitis endemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]