Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39135177›Full record

SynthesisBMC public health2024

Prevalence and associated factors of head lice infestation among primary school children in low- and middle-income countries: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Amare Mebrat Delie, Mihret Melese, Liknaw Workie Limenh, Dereje Esubalew, Nigus Kassie Worku, Eneyew Talie Fenta, Mickiale Hailu, Alemwork Abie, Molla Getie Mehari, Tenagnework Eseyneh Dagnaw

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC public health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Prevalence and Intensity ofJournal of clinical medicine · 2025
    Article
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Amare Mebrat DelieDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Injibara University, P.O. Box: 40, Injibara, Ethiopia. amaremebrat2@gmail.com.
Mihret MeleseDepartment of Human Physiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Liknaw Workie LimenhDepartment of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Dereje EsubalewDepartment of Human Physiology, College of Medicine and Health Science, Ambo University, Ambo, Ethiopia.
Nigus Kassie WorkuDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Dire Dawa University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.
Eneyew Talie FentaDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Injibara University, P.O. Box: 40, Injibara, Ethiopia.
Mickiale HailuDepartment of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Science, Dire Dawa University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
Alemwork AbieDepartment of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
Molla Getie MehariDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Injibara University, Injibara, Ethiopia.
Tenagnework Eseyneh DagnawDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Injibara University, P.O. Box: 40, Injibara, Ethiopia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionHead lice infestation remains a persistent public health concern among primary school children in resource-limited settings, affecting their well-being and academic performance. Despite previous studies, there is no consistent evidence on the prevalence and factors associated with head lice infestation. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors related to head lice infestation among primary school children in low and middle-income countries.

methodsThis review was conducted by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines. Relevant electronic databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Science Direct, AJOL, and Google Scholar, were used to retrieve articles. The study included only published articles written in English languages between December 01, 2014 to January 31, 2024 for studies reporting the prevalence of head lice infestation or associated factors among primary school children in low- and middle-income countries. This review has been registered on PROSPERO with Prospero registration number CRD42024506959. The heterogeneity of the data was evaluated using the I

resultsThe review included 39 studies involving 105,383 primary school children. The pooled prevalence of head lice infestation among primary school children in low- and middle-income countries was 19.96% (95% CI; 13.97, 25.95). This review also found out that being a girl was 3.71 times (AOR = 3.71; 95% CI: 1.22-11.26) more likely to have head lice infestation as compared to boys, while children with a previous history of infestation were 4.51 times (AOR = 4.51; 95% CI: 2.31-8.83) more likely to have head lice infestation as compared to their counterparts.

conclusionThe overall prevalence of head lice infestation among primary school children in low- and middle-income countries was found to be high. Female gender, children who had a previous history of infestation, and family size were significant predictors of head lice infestation. As a result, policymakers and program administrators should focus on the identified determinants.

Indexed as

Developing CountriesLice InfestationsPediculusAnimalsChildFemaleHumansMalePrevalenceRisk FactorsScalp DermatosesSchoolsChildrenHead liceInfestationLow and middle-income countriesPrimary schoolSystematic review and meta-analysis

Identifiers

PMID39135177
PMCPMC11318336

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.