背景:在资源有限的环境中,头虱感染仍然是小学生持续存在的公共卫生问题,影响他们的健康和学习成绩。尽管以前的研究,关于头虱感染的患病率和相关因素,没有一致的证据。这项研究旨在确定低收入和中等收入国家小学生中与头虱侵染有关的患病率和因素。
方法:本综述是根据2020年系统评价和荟萃分析指南的首选报告项目进行的。相关电子数据库,包括PubMed,科克伦图书馆,WebofScience,科学直接,AJOL,和谷歌学者,用于检索文章。该研究仅包括2014年12月1日至2024年1月31日以英语撰写的发表的文章,用于报告低收入和中等收入国家小学生头虱感染或相关因素的患病率。该评论已在PROSPERO上注册,Prospero注册号为CRD42024506959。使用I2统计量评估数据的异质性。使用STATA17软件进行荟萃分析,95%的置信区间。使用漏斗图和统计检验评估出版偏倚,比如Egger和Beggs的测试,以确定纳入研究中的发表偏差。还进行了元回归以评估发表偏倚的发表来源。
结果:该综述包括39项研究,涉及105,383名小学生。在低收入和中等收入国家的小学生中,头虱感染的总患病率为19.96%(95%CI;13.97,25.95)。这项审查还发现,与男孩相比,女孩的头虱出没的可能性是3.71倍(AOR=3.71;95%CI:1.22-11.26),而既往有侵染史的儿童与同龄儿童相比,头虱侵染的可能性是其4.51倍(AOR=4.51;95%CI:2.31-8.83)。
结论:发现在低收入和中等收入国家的小学生中,头虱感染的总体患病率很高。女性性别,以前有感染史的孩子,和家庭规模是头虱感染的重要预测因素。因此,政策制定者和计划管理者应该把重点放在确定的决定因素上。
BACKGROUND: Head 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.
METHODS: This 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 I2 statistic. A meta-analysis was conducted using STATA 17 software, with a 95% confidence interval. Publication bias was evaluated using funnel plots and statistical tests, such as Egger\'s and Beggs\'s tests, to identify publication biases in the included studies. Meta-regression was also carried out to assess the source of publication of publication bias.
RESULTS: The 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.
CONCLUSIONS: The 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.