IJHSR

International Journal of Health Sciences and Research

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Original Research Article

Year: 2017 | Month: March | Volume: 7 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 160-166

Oral Health Knowledge, Attitude and Practice and Its Relation to Oral Health Status among 12-Year Old School Children of Sullia Taluk

Dr. Mohammad Shareef1, Dr. Nusrath Fareed2, Dr. Hemant Battur3, Dr. Sanjeev Khanagar4

1Post Graduate Student, 2Prof. and H.O.D, 3Professor, 4Reader
Department of Public Health Dentistry, K.V.G. Dental College and Hospital, Sullia, D.K. India

Corresponding Author: Dr. Mohammad Shareef

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Good oral health practices are necessary from an young age to ensure positive long term dental health and hygiene and the oral health of children is important towards their overall well being. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the Oral health knowledge, Attitude and Practice by means of a self-administered questionnaire and to assess the oral health status of 12 year old school children through WHO oral health assessment form and to determine the association between oral health knowledge, attitude, and practices and oral health status among the studied children.
Methods: A total of 650 school children drawn through cluster random sampling from across Sullia Taluk and data were collected by clinical examinations (WHO oral health assessments form for children 2013). Knowledge attitudes and practices were recorded through a self-administered, validated questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed through SPSS version 21. P value was set ≤ 0.05
Results: Prevalence of dental caries was 48% (Male-40.2% Female-42.3%) with mean dmft of 4.8±1.2, Prevalence of bleeding on probing was 30.15%, and Prevalence of dental trauma 30% (enamel-dentin fracture) prevalence of enamel fluorosis was 1.9%. The studied population showed 58% to be having satisfactory knowledge, where as 48% had implemented their knowledge in to practices, this gap between knowledge & implementation is reported in literature.
Conclusion: The prevalence of dental caries was 48%, Prevalence of bleeding on probing was 30.15%, Prevalence of dental trauma 31% and prevalence of enamel fluorosis was 1.9%. Attitude and practices were significantly associated with respect to three clinical parameters that were studied though knowledge remained constant.

Key words: Oral health knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Dental caries.

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