Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/20631
Title: A systematic literature review of pediculosis due to head lice in the Pacific Island Countries and Territories: what country specific research on head lice is needed?
Contributor(s): Speare, Rick (author); Harrington, Humpress (author); Canyon, Deon (author); Massey, Peter D  (author)
Publication Date: 2014
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.1186/1471-5945-14-11Open Access Link
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/20631
Abstract: Background: Lack of guidelines on control of pediculosis in the Solomon Islands led to a search for relevant evidence on head lice in the Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs). The aim of this search was to systematically evaluate evidence in the peer reviewed literature on pediculosis due to head lice ('Pediculus humanus var capitis') in the 22 PICTs from the perspective of its value in informing national guidelines and control strategies. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL and Scopus were searched using the terms (pediculosis OR head lice) AND each of the 22 PICTs individually. PRISMA methodology was used. Exclusion criteria were: i) not on topic; ii) publications on pediculosis not relevant to the country of the particular search; iii) in grey literature. Results: Of 24 publications identified, only 5 were included. Four related to treatment and one to epidemiology. None contained information relevant to informing national guidelines. Conclusions: Current local evidence on head lice in the PICTs is minimal and totally inadequate to guide any recommendations for treatment or control. We recommend that local research is required to generate evidence on: i) epidemiology; ii) knowledge, attitudes and practices of health care providers and community members; iii) efficacy of local commercially available pharmaceutical treatments and local customary treatments; iv) acceptability, accessibility and affordability of available treatment strategies; and iv) appropriate control strategies for families, groups and institutions. We also recommend that operational research be done by local researchers based in the PICTs, supported by experienced head lice researchers, using a two way research capacity building model.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Source of Publication: BMC Dermatology, v.14, p. 1-6
Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd
Place of Publication: United Kingdom
ISSN: 1471-5945
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: 111711 Health Information Systems (incl. Surveillance)
111712 Health Promotion
111715 Pacific Peoples Health
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: 420308 Health informatics and information systems
420603 Health promotion
451601 Pacific Peoples and disability
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: 920299 Health and Support Services not elsewhere classified
920499 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) not elsewhere classified)
920308 Pacific Peoples Health - Health Status and Outcomes
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: 211102 Pacific Peoples health status and outcomes
Peer Reviewed: Yes
HERDC Category Description: C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal
Appears in Collections:Journal Article

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