author(s)
Sanaz Jahandideh, Masoumeh Eslamifar, Khadijeh Barimani and Seyyed Farzad Motevalli-Haghi

abstract
Background and purpose: Pediculosis is one of the parasitic diseases, that is a main factor in the health level assessment society. The present study conducted determine the effective factors in the pediculosis in the kindergartens of Sari Township in 2014. Methods: This descriptive cross sectional study was done on the Sari Township kinder gardens. Of 60 kinder gardens keeping 3328 children (1517 girls and 1811 boys), 10 with 416 children (293 girls and 123 boys) were selected randomly after clustering and examined for presence of pediculosis (the ovum or matured lice). Using the questionnaire consisting the variables such as gender, living place etc. the data were collected, and the obtained results were analyzed using the statistical analysis of correlation coefficient and X2 tests. Findings: Among 416 kinder garden children of Sari Township, 27 subjects were infected with pediculosis, the prevalence rate was determined 6.49%. The rate of pediculosis prevalence had significant relationship with the variables such as, using the personal devices, the parents’ level of education, having health expert in the kinder gardens and the fathers’ education level (P<0.05). But the relationship between pediculosis prevalence and the variables such as, living place, sleeping in the common room and hair style was insignificant. Conclusion: The present findings show the role of education and instruction of the parents and the kinder gardens’ health experts in improving the personal public hygiene in reduction of acquiring pediculosis in the kindergartens of the regions under study.