Background: Lack of guidelines on control of pediculosis in the Solomon Islands led to a search for relevant\nevidence on head lice in the Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs). The aim of this search was to\nsystematically evaluate evidence in the peer reviewed literature on pediculosis due to head lice (Pediculus humanus\nvar capitis) in the 22 PICTs from the perspective of its value in informing national guidelines and control strategies.\nMethods: PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL and Scopus were searched using the terms (pediculosis OR head lice)\nAND each of the 22 PICTs individually. PRISMA methodology was used. Exclusion criteria were: i) not on topic;\nii) publications on pediculosis not relevant to the country of the particular search; iii) in grey literature.\nResults: Of 24 publications identified, only 5 were included. Four related to treatment and one to epidemiology.\nNone contained information relevant to informing national guidelines.\nConclusions: Current local evidence on head lice in the PICTs is minimal and totally inadequate to guide any\nrecommendations for treatment or control. We recommend that local research is required to generate evidence on:\ni) epidemiology; ii) knowledge, attitudes and practices of health care providers and community members; iii)\nefficacy of local commercially available pharmaceutical treatments and local customary treatments; iv) acceptability,\naccessibility and affordability of available treatment strategies; and iv) appropriate control strategies for families,\ngroups and institutions. We also recommend that operational research be done by local researchers based in the\nPICTs, supported by experienced head lice researchers, using a two way research capacity building model.
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