Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Region VII, Central Visayas
DIVISION OF CARCAR CITY

Pit – os Elementary School

Pit –os Calidngan, Carcar City, Cebu
Pediculosis Infestation Affects on Academic

Performance among Selected Learners of

Pit – os Elementary School

Baronessa G. Varga, MATSpEd

Junaliza M. Daquio, LPT

Debie F. Satinitigan, LPT

I. CONTEXT AND RATIONALE

Head lice contamination (Pediculosis Infestation) has a global distribution and it

is regarded as main health problem throughout the world. This poses serious health

problems for many communities, especially for school children links to low academic

performance alongside with psychological and social outcomes (Gratz, 1997).

The Division of Carcar City upholds the importance of health and good hygiene

of learners in all school respondents and to ensure its implementation, the Division

Health Department conducted a school visit. During the visit, they checked the learners’

dental, health and physical conditions. They followed the checklist given to them in

interviewing each learner in every grade level. After which, a post conference was

conducted to the teachers presenting the observations and results. One of their findings

among the PES learners was these pediculosis infestations. As the teacher adviser

went over, these learners those were mostly low-academic performing learners.

These alarming findings of head lice prevailing among the learners who are at

school age gives the idea of conducting an action research that aims to examine the

effects of head lice contamination to academic performance among learners in Pit – os

Elementary School. In addition, pediculosis infestation to a child results to fear, social

alienation, bullying and most of all is having low academic performance. It also

overburdens considering that negligence on the part of parents and most of all due to

poor hygiene (Palermo 2017). Infestation becomes alarming to a child taking the most

burdens as carrier of the parasite (Willens et. al. 2005).

Given the idea above, this infestation has bothered most teachers since those

infected has very low attention and focus. Knowledge on proper hygiene is very
important in solving the said problem as well as support from the parents. Furthermore,

the case of infestation among learners of Pit – os Elementary School gives way to think

of innovations to at least diminish the occurrence of these parasites.

Proponents include the participation of the parents since they are in contact with

the learners most of the time. Parents play great role in this study especially in

observing proper hygiene among selected learners. All the same in handling the child’s

proper health and physical condition, parents are in the most advantage. In this study,

parents will be called for a short debriefing sessions which includes the participation of

the Division Health personnel which apparently became partners for the infected

learners’ monitoring and improvement. This knowledge-filled session with the parents

includes the proper techniques and guidelines in treating pediculosis without risking the

child’s moral and emotional aspects which always brings it in at most confidentiality.

Learners, principally those less than 12 years old in Pit-os Elementary School

(PES) constitute are somehow carries the burdens of pediculosis infestation. As a child-

friendly and health oriented institution, we aimed to examine the effect of head lice

contamination to academic performance among our learners in PES. In this study,

learners were selected through fish ball-picking. Prior days before the selection, hairs of

the respondents in each grade level were examined by the school health coordinator

and were tallied with utmost privacy. As consolidated, the school health/clinic teacher

will list down the names of the learners who are positive of pediculosis infestation and

put it inside the aquarium ball and pick 10 learners as the prior respondents for the

research.
II. ACTION RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Pediculosis infestation is one of the related unusual accomplished in South

America wherein the school also conducted the study through direct clientele, the

learners. Teachers figured out the conditions during this study that gives way to clarify

the factors that may affect the academic performances of the learners.

This study aims to address pediculosis infestation among our selected learners in

Pit-os Elementary School. Specifically, this study seeks to answer the following

questions:

 What are the ways to get rid pediculosis infestation at home? In school?

 What are the complications to a school aged child experiencing a long term

lice?

 How do these affects the academic performance of infested learners?

In order to obtain the legit answers of these questions, researchers use

questionnaires and checklists evaluated by the Division Health Officer.

III. PROPOSED INNOVATION, INTERVENTION AND STRATEGY

In this study, the researchers are planning to use “OPLAN ALIS KUTO” to the

selected learners wherein the hair of the respondents will be examined by the school

health coordinator and will be tallied with utmost confidentiality. Moreover, parent

debriefing would be conducted with the special participation of the Division Health

Officer and questionnaires would be given to all selected learners since it was found out

that they also performing low academically.

This research proposal will utilize questionnaires since its main purpose is to

determine the effects of pediculosis infestation to low academic performing learners.

The researchers formulated relevant questions suited for the respondents based on the

record obtained from the school health coordinator. Health professionals from the

Division of Carcar City will also be notified and invited to validate the questionnaires.

The school would ask permission from the Division Office and Division Health

Department to conduct the study in accordance to the given guidelines checked and

approved by the Division Action Research Department with Dr. Archie M. Torcende’s

supervision.

Although some people may be in denial of having accumulated of these

parasites, researchers in this study would present the common and conventional ways

to detect pediculosis in every human being.

EARLY DETECTION OF HEAD LICE

1. Apply ample conditioner to dry hair, enough to soak from the scalp to the end of

the strands.

2. Remove tangles with regular comb.

3. Start behind the ears and comb the hair section by section. Separating the hair

with hairclips is helpful.

4. Place the lice comb against the scalp and pull the end of the hair.

5. Check the comb for lice after each pull.

6. Wipe the comb with a tissue each time and look for lice.

7. Place the tissue in plastic bags.

8. Check all the hair over the entire head.

9. Repeat combing for every part of the head at least five times.
 10. Once finished, tie the bag with the soiled tissues and throw it inside the garbage.

11. If lice are detected ad treatment is required, make sure that all conditioner is

washed from the hair prior to treatment.

IV. ACTION RESEARCH METHODS

a. Participants or Other Sources of Data and Information

The school clinic teacher selected the 45 learners that meet the criteria of having

alarming pediculosis infestation in their hairs. After that she uses a sample size of

selected 10 learners from the 45 determined learners having infested out of 201 over-all

population of Pit-os Elementary School. These selected 10 respondents are randomly

picked through fish ball sampling method. After which, the learners are called together

with their parents for a short debriefing session with the presence of the Division Health

personnel as the standing partner of this action research. During the debriefing learners

and parents will be informed about the objectives and purposes of the research as well.

Parents’ consent will also be distributed. Questions and clarifications on the learners

and parents mind will be answered by the school clinic and the proponent researchers.

These 10 selected learners will be the focus of this study for the school year 208 –

2019.

b. Data Gathering Methods

In this study, proponents utilized two instruments below:

The first instrument is a visual inspection of the scalp and hair for the presence of lice.

This was done during the Division Health personnel visits in school last March 15, 2018

which was assisted by the school clinic/health officer. As find out 45 learners of different
grade level were infected by these parasites. And out of the 45 learners, 10 of them

were picked randomly as the baseline of the case study for this research.

The data obtained from the visual inspection will be tallied with utmost

confidentiality by the school’s health coordinator. The second instrument is a

researcher formulated questionnaire with closed and open-type of questions

validated by the Health Professionals from the Division of Carcar City. The 10 learners

together with their parents will be interviewed and will answer two separate 15 item

questionnaire.

This research utilizes a multi-case study method since it focuses to only 10

learners in school. During the period of the study, confidentiality is at most hand of the

faculty members and its proponents. Nevertheless, the learners’ emotions and reactions

would be in the topmost consideration in this study. Parents’ participation and

involvement would be much recognized and acknowledged. The department of

education would ensure its security for the benefits and improvements of the learners

who were the main focus of all time.

c. Data Analysis Plan

Based on the Division Health Monitoring Result in a class per grade level 6 out of

10 learners manifested of having pediculosis infestation. Most of these learners

displayed also poor physical condition and improper grooming which contributes to the

prevalence of the lice. Findings called for the quick response of the teachers to

accumulate the infected learners for possible interventions.

 As an answer to the problem among learners of the school, proponents will

conduct a study and to present to the Division Health Officer which has been approved

with the assurance of its logical and ethical confidentiality. A randomly selected,

stratified sample of learners from the school will be used. Descriptive statistics will be

conducted .The prevalence of pediculosis will be estimated in terms of the percentage

of children infected with lice during the response time of the questionnaire of this

research. Closed and open-type questionnaires will be used. Parents filled out one

questionnaire per child in the home.

The overall infestation rate found in this study was rather high and similar results

are reported elsewhere, even though percentages vary significantly among schools.

In this study, the researchers will make use of the T-test for single or small

samples since it only focuses on a limited number of respondents. Another statistic that

the researchers will use is the frequency of height, weight, age and the like to determine

if these factors contribute or triggers pediculosis infestation among these randomly

selected respondents. Nevertheless, computing the mean, mode, and range will be

observed to determine the number of respondents who belong to the upper and lower

group.
V. ACTION RESEARCH WORK PLAN & TIMELINES

Number of
Activities Objectives Timeframe
Days

Presentation of the
Present the research proposal March 27, 2018 1 day
research proposal
to the SDS for approval
to the SDS and
Research
Coordinator of
Carcar City
Division
Conference and Present the research for October 24, 2018 1 day
orientation to
suggestions and approval of
research
budget
proponents with
the regional
panelists for
approval

3rd week after the

Reproduce the tools according
Reproduction of
conference and 3 days
Tools to the number of respondents
orientation

(November)

1st week of
Administer tools to the subjects
Administration of
December up to 50 days
Research of the study
January last week
Instruments
 1st week of
Consolidation of Summarize the data gathered
February up to 2nd 40 days
the responses from the instruments/
week of March
consolidation

3rd week of March

Statistical Interpret the results of the
treatment up to last week of 10 days
gathered data
application March

Analyze responses and make 1st week of April

Interpretation of
15 days
responses analysis and interpretation up to 3rd week of

April

Request for appointment from

the division research committee Last week of April

Presentation of
for the presentation of output, up to 1st week of
results 10 days
finalization, and incorporation of May

suggestions and

recommendations from the

division research council.

Submission and Last Week of May

Submit final research output 10 days
publication of (tentative)

results

The table shows the action research work plan starting from November 13, 2018 up to

May of last week 2019.

VI. ACTION RESEARCH COST ESTIMATES

FIRST TRANCH:

Resource

Activities Materials Estimated Cost

Pre-evaluation or Checking of Visual inspection of 500.00 (gloves, masks,

pediculosis per grade level by the scalp and hair for combs)

the School Clinic Teacher with the presence of lice

Class Adviser

Evaluated learners to answer the School Clinic-Made 1000.00 (production of

questionnaires Questions evaluated questionnaires)

by the Division

Health Team

Parent Debriefing/Orientation School/Division Health 5000.00

Generated Topics for (4 snacks and 2 meals)

the Two – Day 1000.00 (production of

Symposium materials)

School Clinic Teacher’s biweekly Visual inspection of the 500.00 (gloves, masks,

monitoring of the infected scalp and hair for the combs)

learners presence of lice with

 the checklist

Class advisers in collecting WINS Checklist Data

status report of the 10 and Class Advisers 1000.00 (materials)

monitored learners both Formative and

nutritional and academic Summative Records

performance.

Proponents to consolidate the Action Research Paper 1500.00 (paper and

data gathered for presentation Data Findings and printing materials)

purposes Analysis

Post-Debriefing with Cured Action Research Data 3500.00 (snack and

Learners, Parents, Division Outputs in slides lunch)

Health Personnel and presentation

stakeholders

TOTAL COST: 15,000.00

SECOND TRANCH:

Activities Resource Estimated Cost

Materials

Preparation and Production of Action Research 500.00 (paper, printing

the Research Paper Outputs and Manuscripts and binding)

Findings

Acknowledgements of the Giving of tokens and 1500.00 (certificates and

Resource Speakers, certificates of token production)

Stakeholders, partners and Recognition

Proponents during the research

span

TOTAL COST: 2, 000.00

Pit-os Elementary School utilizes the Department of Education availability of

funds within the program implementation, and from private stakeholders who quarterly

support the school activities.

VII. PLANS FOR DISSEMINATION AND UTILIZATION

The findings of the study will be presented to the parents and teachers of Pit-os

Elementary School during the PTA General Assembly for them to be aware of the

results and to enhance awareness on how to eliminate, if not, lessen the infestation. For

further dissemination, every class advisers must integrate in the MAPEH (Health)

lesson of the importance of good grooming and proper hygiene. Furthermore, this will

also be presented to the school heads for them to adapt the treatment in cases they

have the same issue in their respective schools.

VIII. REFERENCES

Alireza Sanei-Dehkordi, et al. Head Lice Infestation (Pediculosis) and Associated

Factors among Primary School Girls in Sirik County, Southern Iran. September 8, 2017.

Cazorla D, Ruiz A, Acosta M. Clinical and epidemiological study of pediculosis capitis in

schoolchildren from Coro, Venezuela. Invest Clin. April 2007.

Frankowski BL. American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for the prevention and

treatment of head lice infestation, Am J Manag Care. October 2004.

Mumcuoglu KY, et al. International guidelines for effective control of head louse

infestations, J Drugs Dermatol. June 2007.

Appendix

Sample Survey Questionnaire 1. For the Learners

1. Unsay imong mga kasinatian kon aduna kay kuto? (What are your experiences while

being infested with head lice?)

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

2. Unsay imong gibati sa dihang nasaray-an mo nga aduna kay kuto? (What did you feel

knowing that you are infested with head lice?)

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

3. Unsay mga lakang nga imong gibuhat haron mawagtang ang imong kuto? (What are

your steps to address your pediculosis infestation?)

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

4. Sa imong mga gibuhat, nawala ba kini, mas nidaghan, o mao lang gihapon? (From your

actions being done, is your pediculosis infestation disappear, lessen, or the same?)

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

5. Naka apektar ba kini sa imong pag eskwela? (Does it affect your performance in

school?)

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________
Sample Survey Questionnaire 2. For the Parents

1. Unsay imong mga pamaagi sa panimalay para masiguro ang kahinlo og kahapsay sa

panglawas nga aspeto sa imong mga anak? (What are your ways in making sure the

cleanliness and orderliness of your child/children at home?)

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

2. Unsay imong namatikdan sa higayon nga imong sudlayon ang imong anak? (What are

your observations every time you comb your child’s hair?)

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

3. Unsay imong gibuhat sa pagkahibalong gikuto ang imong anak? (What did you do

knowing that your child is infested with head lice?)

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

4. Unsa kini ka epektibo? Nawala ba kini, mas nidaghan, o mao lang gihapon? Ngano

man? (How effective your treatment being done? Is your child’s pediculosis infestation

disappear, lessen or just the same?)

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

5. Nakabatyag ka ba nga aduna kini’y epekto sa pag-eskwela sa imong anak? Unsa man

kini? (Have you observed any effects of pediculosis infestation on his/her performance in

school? What are they?)

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________