Table 2.
Themes and subthemes related to the experiences of adolescent girls affected by head lice
| Themes | Sub-themes | Main codes |
|---|---|---|
| living in the shadow of fear | Social fear | Fear of rejection |
| Fear of Ridicule and Judgment | ||
| Fear of going to school | ||
| Fear of disclosing illness | ||
| Fear of loneliness | ||
| Fear of social gatherings | ||
| Fear of spilling | ||
| Fear of online presence | ||
| Fear of losing friends | ||
| Fear of losing social status | ||
| Fear of harm | Fear of alopecia | |
|
Fear of contracting diseases associated with head lice | ||
| Fear of lack of improvement | ||
| Fear of transmission to others | ||
| Fear of skin damage | ||
| Fear of reinfection | ||
| Fear of beauty decline | Fear of losing beauty | |
| Fear of losing attention | ||
| Fear of changing the physical appearance style | ||
| Torment of infestation | Stigma | Stigma of dirtiness |
| Persistent stigma | ||
| Rural Labelling | ||
| Labelling and finger-pointing | ||
| Stigma of poverty | ||
| Bullying behaviour | Being blocked on social media platforms | |
| Curiosity of others | ||
| Inappropriate disclosure | ||
| Verbal harassment | ||
| Criticism from others | ||
| Offensive behaviour | ||
| Self-blame | Self-blame | |
| Feeling dirty | ||
| Feeling unpleasant about oneself | ||
| Feeling of irresponsibility | ||
| Adversity | Terrifying nightmare | |
| Coexistence with bloodsuckers | ||
| Torment | ||
| Decreased quality of life | ||
| Deep sorrow | ||
| Feeling of victimization | ||
| Misfortune | ||
| Struggling with head lice | Challenging struggle | Numerous treatments |
| Resistant infestation | ||
| Feeling tired of treatment | ||
| The long process of the disease | ||
| Unwanted treatment side effects | ||
| Perceived ineffectiveness of treatment | ||
| Positive and inspirational outcomes | Improved hair growth | |
| Taking hygiene measures seriously | ||
| Receiving parental attention | ||
| Acquiring valuable experiences | ||
| Effective coping | Acceptance | |
| Seeking awareness | ||
| Self-efficacy | ||
| Adherence to personal hygiene | ||
| Compliance with treatment | ||
| Learning from peers’ experiences | ||
| Nonconforming behaviour | Incomplete treatment course | |
| Denial of illness | ||
| Concealment | ||
| Searching for the transmission source | ||
| Utilizing unconventional treatments | ||
| Disturbing Ramifications | Family disruption | Double Pressure on the Mother |
| Family reputation damage | ||
| Family estrangement | ||
| Family turmoil | ||
| Academic disruption | Lack of Concentration | |
| Disinterest in Education | ||
| Academic decline | ||
| School absenteeism | ||
| Health threats | A sensation of scalp discomfort | |
| Scalp itching | ||
| Scalp damage | ||
| Hair damage | ||
| Disturbed sleep pattern | ||
| Confused mental state | Feeling of insecurity | |
| Feeling of depression | ||
| Feeling of distress | ||
| Feeling of helplessness | ||
| Mental disturbance | ||
| Decreased self-confidence | ||
| Feeling of loneliness |