title: Pediculosis capitis in northern Jordan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about the prevalence of pediculosis among school students in northern Jordan.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the incidence of pediculosis among school students of different socio-economic levels in northern Jordan.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 2519 school students of both sexes enrolled in eight elementary governmental schools were examined for the presence of Pediculus capitis. Schools were grouped into four socio-economic classes: very low (VL), low (L), medium (M), and high (H). The chi-squared test was performed to analyze the results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 338 students (13.4%) were infested with nits, immature or adult P. capitis. Girls showed a higher prevalence (14.5%) than boys (11.1%). Statistical analysis for socio-economic classes and infestation rates yielded a significant effect of the four classes on infestation. This conclusion was evident among schoolgirls, where infestation rates were 28.8%, 18.9%, 6.1%, and 0.2% in VL, L, M, and H socio-economic classes, respectively. Schoolchildren in the age group 8-9 years exhibited higher prevalence rates (16% in boys and 22.1% in girls), while prevalences declined to 10.2% and 6.6% among boys and girls aged 10-12 years, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study reveals that socio-economic status is a major factor influencing the occurrence of pediculosis among school students of both sexes in Jordan. A national campaign should be implemented to enhance public awareness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
authors.forename: Z S
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Amr
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Nusier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan / Q000453:epidemiology; D010373:Lice Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D010374:Pediculus / Q000254:growth & development*; D015995:Prevalence; D012536:Scalp Dermatoses / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology