title: Prevalence and risk factors associated with pediculosis capitis in an impoverished urban community in lima, peru.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pediculosis capitis is a ubiquitous parasitic skin disease associated with intense pruritus of the scalp. In developing countries it frequently affects children and adults, but epidemiological data at the community level are rare.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess prevalence and risk factors associated with pediculosis capitis in a resource-poor community in Lima, Peru.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 736 persons living in 199 households in a circumscribed neighbourhood were examined for head lice and nits by visual inspection. At the same time, socio-demographic data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Variables associated with pediculosis were identified by performing a bivariate analysis, followed by a multivariate logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of pediculosis capitis was 9.1% (95% confidence interval (CI): 7.0-11.2 %) in the general population and 19.9% (CI: 15.4-24.4%) in children ≤15 years of age. Multivariate analysis showed that pediculosis capitis was significantly associated with age ≤ 15 years (OR: 16.85; CI:7.42-38.24), female sex (OR: 2.84; CI: 1.58-5.12), household size of >4 persons (OR: 1.98; CI: 1.11-3.55), low quality of house construction material (OR:2.22; CI: 1.20-4.12), and presence of animals in the household (OR: 1.94; CI: 1.11-3.39).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pediculosis capitis was a very common disease in the studied community in Lima, Peru. Our logistic regression analysis affirms that young age is the most important risk factor for pediculosis capitis. Moreover, female sex, large household size, living in wooden houses and the presence of animals were identified as being significantly associated with head lice infestation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm, 27, 12203 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lesshafft
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm, 27, 12203 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baier
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú
authors.forename: Humberto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú
authors.forename: Angelica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Terashima
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm, 27, 12203 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Feldmeier
keywords: Ectoparasites; Epidemiology; Head lice; Logistic regression analysis; Pediculosis capitis; Peru; Poverty; Risk factors