Evaluation of a health education program for head lice infestation in female primary school students in Chabahar city, Iran

An important health problem in students is pediculosis capitis [head lice infestation] which causes physical, mental, and social complications. Social stigma induces feeling of shame, anger, and embarrassment for families and may prevent people from coming forward. This study was a quasi-experimental [case - control] study which was done during periods of 2008 - 2009. Data collection tools were questionnaire, checklist, and head examination. Two schools were randomly selected among female primary schools in Chabahar, where 153 students were divided into case and control groups. After collecting the data, an educational program was designed and performed in the experimental group and was evaluated after two months. The results showed a significant difference in knowledge, attitude, and practice of the students in the case group, before and after the intervention [P < 0.0001], but in the control group it was not significant [P > 0.05] .The infestation rate was 69.3% in the case group before the intervention, and 82.1% in the control group, which decreased to 26.7% in the case group after the education [P < 0.0001], but there was no significant difference in the control group [P < 0.05]. The health education program had a positive effect on the reduction of pediculosis capitis among students; thus, it is suggested to perform and evaluate educational programs in students and their parents

Effective health education program on reduction of tinea capitis; a quasi-experimental study on primary school-aged children

This study intends to evaluate the effect of health education program on healthy behavior and tinea capitis in Chabahar primary school-aged boys. For this quasi-experimental [case-control] study, two primary schools were randomly selected in Chabahar, south-eastern of Iran. Initial data of 115 students were gathered using a well-prepared questionnaire, by means of a check list and a thorough clinical examination. Meanwhile, scalp and hair samples [direct slide exam and culture] were assessed. Subjects of the experimental [case] group had received necessary educations for one month after which both groups were evaluated 2 months later. Totally, 20% and 18.3% of cases and controls were infected before conducting the educational program, respectively, however, following the education only 5.5% of cases were remained infected [p=0.008]. pre- and post-education infection rate did not differ significantly. Our results showed that health education program had a positive effect on reduction of tinea capitis among prepubescent boys