[Knowledge and practice concerning pediculosis in a health district]

Pediculosis is an endemics that has recently intensified world wide and also in Cuba as of 1970. A study was performed in the schools located in the health area of the Vedado Polyclinics in the City of Havana to find out the level of knowledge acquired and the practices followed that may have an effect on the control of this disease. Two qualitative techniques i.e. group analysis and non-participatory observation allowed to gather information. Wrong pieces of knowledge and ill practices were detected such as the belief that nits can fly, the use of a drug called Lindano 1% to treat children as a preventive method while they are in class, application of products in a wrong way, use of harmful products and no taking out of nits in a systematic way. These mistaken concepts and practices affect the analysis of cases and thus, they should be taken into consideration to increase the efficiency of the control program.