Evaluation of a Nursing Intervention for Pediculosis Human Capitis in Rural Female School Students and their Mothers in Thiruvallur District, India

An important setback among female students is head lice infestation. This leads to problems in all the aspects such as physical, mental and social. Among young children head lice is more prevailing problem due to more bodily contact with others and sharing of things. School students are not bringing to the notice of health care professionals due to shame, embarrassment.

Design used for the study was non randomized, pretest posttest control group design. The purpose of the study was to find out effectiveness of nursing intervention on knowledge and infestation. Tools were knowledge questionnaire and observation checklist and examination of head by magnifying glass. After the pretest nursing intervention was planned and executed for study group school children and their mothers (Education program and Neem oil application). The posttest was done on the 25th day. Vast statistically significant difference at p<0.001 level was found within the group and between the group among study group participants. In the control group it was not significant (p>0.05).

This study imposes importance of nursing intervention at community level. The education program and Neem oil application had a positive impact on reduction of perdiculosis capitis among school children.