Effect of a health education program on reduction of pediculosis in school girls at Amphoe Muang, Khon Kaen Province, Thailand

<div><p>Background</p><p>Pediculosis caused by head lice (<i>Pediculus humanus capitis</i>) infestation is still an important health problem in schoolchildren, especially girls, worldwide, including in Thailand. Although pediculicidal agents effectively kill head lice, the re-infestation rate is still high. Thus, prevention is an important strategy for any sustainable control program. We aimed to develop and evaluate the efficacy of a health education program for increasing knowledge, changing attitudes and promoting preventive practices to reduce prevalence of pediculosis among school girls in Amphoe Muang, Khon Kaen, northeastern Thailand.</p><p>Methodology</p><p>Six schools were selected using multistage simple randomization and were allocated into intervention or control groups. A total of 267 girls was enrolled from these schools. A “knowledge, attitude and practice” (KAP) questionnaire, consent forms and health education materials were constructed and tested by experts and in one pilot school before the main investigation. Baseline prevalence of adult lice and nits was determined. The health education package was given only to the intervention group. The KAP questionnaire was re-evaluated at two months after intervention.</p><p>Results</p><p>At baseline, the prevalence and intensity of head lice infestation, and the KAP scores did not differ significantly between the two groups. After re-evaluation at two months, the KAP score was significantly greater in the intervention group. A significant decrease of the infestation rate from 59% to 44% was observed in the intervention group, whereas infestation increased in the control group (from 56% to 65%). The incidence of new cases in the intervention group (6.14%) was lower than in the control group (12.62%).</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>These findings indicated that the newly-established health education package is an effective tool for increasing KAP and reducing head lice infestation in school girls. Efforts to combat pediculosis in schoolchildren elsewhere may consider including this, or a similar, health education package in their programs.</p></div

Identification of autoantigens reacting against plasma samples from patients with CCA using M139 cell line-derived proteins.

<p>Identification of autoantigens reacting against plasma samples from patients with CCA using M139 cell line-derived proteins.</p

Students’ demographic information in intervention and control groups at baseline.

<p>Students’ demographic information in intervention and control groups at baseline.</p

The rate of head lice infestation, incidence and intensity in intervention and control groups at baseline and the two-month follow-up assessment.

<p>The rate of head lice infestation, incidence and intensity in intervention and control groups at baseline and the two-month follow-up assessment.</p

Clinical and pathological features associated with HSP70, ENO1 and RNH1 autoantibodies in patients with CCA.

<p>*When the sum of subset numbers does not match patient totals, data were missing or unavailable.</p

The frequency of preventive practices in intervention and control groups at baseline and the two-month follow-up assessment.

<p>The frequency of preventive practices in intervention and control groups at baseline and the two-month follow-up assessment.</p

Attitudes about head lice in intervention and control groups at baseline and at the two-month follow-up assessment.

<p>Attitudes about head lice in intervention and control groups at baseline and at the two-month follow-up assessment.</p

Two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis and western blotting.

<p>MMNK1 and CCA cell lines (M055, M214 and M139) lysates were separated by 2D electrophoresis and stained with coomassie brilliant blue (panels A, C, E and G). Parallel gels were transferred to PVDF and incubated with pooled plasma of patients with CCA (n = 10) and incubated with secondary anti-human IgG (panels B, D, F and H). Matching IgG autoantibodies spots were numbered 1–14 in both CBB gels and western blot membranes. Duplicate experiments were performed. Spot numbers 1, 11 and 13 are RNH1, ENO1 and HSP70, respectively.</p

Western blotting analysis of HSP70 and RNH1 autoantibodies.

<p>Panel A) Recombinant human HSP70 was incubated with plasma of healthy individuals (lane 1–5) and patients with CCA (lanes 6–12). Immunoreactive bands were detected in 5/7 patients and none of the healthy controls. Panel B) Recombinant human RNH1 was incubated with plasma of healthy individuals (lane 1–5) and patients with CCA (lanes 6–12). Immunoreactive bands were detected in 6/7 patients and was weak in controls. Recombinant HSP70 and RNH1 proteins were probed with pooled healthy plasma served as negative controls (−) and pooled plasma from patients with CCA served as positive controls (+). HSP70 and RNH1 proteins were also demonstrated by staining with coomassie brilliant blue (CBB). PH  =  healthy individuals, CCA  =  cholangiocarcinoma.</p

Diagnostic performance (sensitivity, specificity, predictive values) of the possible combination of autoantibodies against HSP70, RNH1 and ENO1 in patients with CCA <i>vs</i> healthy controls.

<p>PPV  =  positive predictive value, NPV  =  negative predictive value.</p