title: Risk factors associated with head louse infestation in Korea.
abstract: Head louse infestation (HLI) is one of the most frequently occurring parasitic diseases in children. This study was conducted to investigate the socioeconomic and personal factors influencing HLI in the Republic of Korea. A total of 2,210 questionnaires about various factors related to HLI were obtained from children in 17 primary schools throughout the country. The rate of HLI was significantly lower in children who lived together with mother or in a family where both parents worked. In addition, HLI was lower in children whose fathers or mothers were public officers or teachers. However, HLI was higher in children who had small families and washed their hair less often. Education levels of parents and the number of children in family were not significant. Improvement of socioeconomic factors and personal hygiene will be helpful for reducing HLI.
authors: Department of Environmental and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Chungju 380-701, Korea.
authors: Seobo
authors: S
authors: Sim
authors: Won-Ja
authors: WJ
authors: Lee
authors: Jae-Ran
authors: JR
authors: Yu
authors: In Yong
authors: IY
authors: Lee
authors: Seung Hyun
authors: SH
authors: Lee
authors: Soo-Youn
authors: SY
authors: Oh
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Seo
authors: Jong-Yil
authors: JY
authors: Chai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D004522:Educational Status; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010373:Lice Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D010374:Pediculus / Q000502:physiology*; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires